Effect of Alkali Treatment and Fiber Content Variation on the Tensile Properties of Coir Fiber Reinforced Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) Composite

Abstract

The eect of alkali treatment and ber content variation on the tensile properties of coir ber reinforced cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) composite was studied. Biocomposite consisting of coir bers and cashew nut shell liquid resin was produced using the hand lay-up technique. The bers were treated with 5% NaOH and varied between 0% to 40% weight fractions. Composite laminates with untreated coir bers were also produced with same ber loadings. The results showed that tensile strength and modulus of the CNSL/COIR composite increased as the weight fraction of coir bers was increased up to a ber content of 30%. Also the composites exhibited reduction in elongation at break as ber content was increased. The alkali- treated CNSL/COIR composite laminates showed improved tensile properties and this was attributed to an improvement of interfacial ber-matrix adhesion in the composites.