Effect of lignocellulosic fibers on mechanical, thermomechanical and hydrophilic studies of epoxy modified with novel bioresin epoxy methyl ester derived from soybean oil.

Epoxy resin is modified with epoxy methyl soyate synthesized from soybean oil to toughen the matrix and reduce the viscosity of resin system. Unidirectional sisal fibers in mat form were incorporated at different orientations of [0/0] and [0/90] as reinforcement in epoxy blend having more toughened nature. Highly improved strength and modulus of the [0/0] laminated composite revealed strong interfacial region of matrix for binding the fibers. Further, notched impact strength of the composites was found to be more than 700% higher compared with modified epoxy blend. Dynamic mechanical analysis depicted an improvement in the storage modulus and higher damping factor of the [0/0] sisal fiber laminated composite, which confirms better damping properties under vibrating conditions. The fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion in the composite was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic analysis of the fractured specimens. Contact angle and atomic force microscopic studies were carried out to reveal the hydrophilic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]