Mechanical, thermal and fatigue behaviour of surface-treated novelCaryota urensfibre-reinforced epoxy composite

Epoxy biocomposites were prepared using acid-, base- and silane-treated novelCaryota urensnatural fibres (CUFs). The primary aim of this research is to reveal a better surface treatment method to achieve improved mechanical, thermal and fatigue properties ofCaryotafibre epoxy composite system. The composites were prepared using hand layup method and post cured at 120 degrees C for 48 h. The tensile, flexural and impact results show that the silane surface-treatedCaryota urensfibre-reinforced epoxy composite possesses improved mechanical properties than the base- and acid-treatedCaryota urensfibres in the epoxy composite. Similarly, the inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of silane-treatedCaryota urens-reinforced epoxy composite gives the highest value of 28 MPa. The TGA shows a large mass loss for both acid- and base-treatedCaryota urensepoxy composites whereas the silane-treatedCaryota urensin epoxy composite retains the thermal stability. The fatigue behaviour of silane surface-modifiedCaryota urensepoxy composite shows the highest fatigue life cycle of 18,315 for 25% of maximum tensile stress. The SEM micrographs show improved adhesion for silane-treated CUF than those treated with acid and base. ThisCaryota urensfibre-reinforced epoxy composite could be used in automobile body parts, domestic appliances, defence products and lightweight mini-aircrafts.