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In this research work, the untreated and various concentrations of alkali treated continuous mulberry fibers were used as reinforcement in polyester matrix and its static and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. The composites were fabricated using untreated, 5%, 10%, and 15% alkali treated mulberry fibers (ATMF) reinforced in polyester resin by compression molding technique. The result showed that the 10% alkali treated mulberry fiber composite (ATMFC) considerable increase in tensile, flexural, and impact properties compared to untreated, 5% and 15% alkali treated mulberry fiber composites. The 15% alkali treated mulberry fiber composite showed decrease in water absorption property. The fractured surface morphology of composite samples was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) shows that the 10% alkali treated mulberry fiber composite enhanced storage and loss modulus compared to untreated, 5% and 15% alkali treated mulberry fiber composites. The weight loss of untreated, 5%, 10%, and 15% alkali treated composites were studied under varying temperature by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermo Gravimetric analysis (DTG). POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1908–E1919, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research the fibers were extracted from mulberry plant and treated with various concentrations of alkali solution (NaOH) such as 5, 10, and 15%, and their physical, chemical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties were investigated experimentally. Due to alkali treatment, it was observed that the density of mulberry fibers increased while the diameter of fibers reduced. The chemical analyses showed that the cellulose content increased and hemicellulose, lignin, wax, and ash contents were found to be reduced due to alkali treatment. The chemical species present in the fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. In addition, tensile test showed that 5% alkali-treated fibers exhibited a tensile strength of 605.61 ± 41.34 MPa, tensile modulus of 11.78 ± 1.93 GPa, and strain at break of 4.73 ± 1.06%. The surface texture and thermal properties of raw- and alkali-treated fibers were examined using scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetric analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mechanical properties such as tensile, compressive, flexural, impact strength and water absorption of the alkali treated continuous Agave fibre reinforced epoxy composite (TCEC) and untreated continuous Agave fibre reinforced epoxy composite (UTCEC) were analysed. A comparison of the surfaces of TCEC and UTCEC composites was carried out by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermomechanical properties of the composite reinforced with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated Agave fibres were considerably good as the shrinkage of the fibre during alkali treatment had facilitated more points of fibre resin interface. The SEM micrograph and FTIR spectra of the impact fracture surfaces of TCEC clearly demonstrate the better interfacial adhesion between fibre and the matrix. In both analyses the TCEC gave good performance than UTCEC and, thus, there is a scope for its application in light weight manufacture in future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]