EFFECT OF SURFACE TREATMENT ON THE PROPERTIES OF WHEAT STRAW AND THEIR EPOXY COMPOSITE

Abstract

Natural fibers are potential materials as reinforcement in polymer composites because of their easily availability, environment friendly nature and cost effectiveness. Moreover these fibers are providing excellent properties to the prepared composites. However there are few issues which are undesirable that is poor compatibility between these cellulosic fibers and polymer matrix. Various surface treatment methodologies of these fibers have been attempted to improve the adhesion and compatibility between these two materials of opposite nature. Nano clay treatment of these natural fibers is one of the promising methods which is used to improve the performance of these fibers when used as a reinforcement in polymer composites Wheat straw is an easily available fiber and an agricultural waste in various parts of India. In the present study initially wheat straw reinforced epoxy composites have been prepared by simple hand layup technique without any treatment of the fibers. After that fiber treatment is done by alkali alone and alkali followed by nano-clay and the composites were prepared by these fibers. The various properties of these composites like mechanical, thermal and morphological properties has been evaluated by X ray diffraction(XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Universal testing machine(UTM) analysis. FWO and Kissinger method has been applied to calculate the activation energy of these fibers before and after treatment steps. A remarkable improve in various properties of these composites have been observed by these treatments.