Effect of Prolonged Water Absorption on Mechanical Properties in Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Vinyl-Ester Composites

With the increasing of worldwide societal awareness about environmental impact, sustainability, and renewable energy sources, the polymer natural fiber composites recently have attracted the attention of researchers due to the fact that they are recyclable and biodegradable. This study conducted a new infiltration method that involved very thin sheets of recycled cellulose fibers (RCF) being fully soaked in vinyl-ester resin for the development of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites. The effect of prolonged water absorption on the mechanical behavior of cellulose fiber (0-50 wt%) reinforced vinyl-ester composites was investigated. The elastic modulus of these composites was measured and the data were validated with various mathematical models. The modeling results revealed that the experimental data matched the prediction data obtained by the Cox-Krenchel model. Prolonged exposure of these composites to water absorption caused a reduction in elastic modulus, strength, and toughness. (C) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers