EFFECT OF CHEMICAL TREATMENT WITH OXIDANTS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LUFFA SPONGE/UNSATURATED POLYESTER COMPOSITES
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Université de M'sila
Abstract
This study investigates a synergistic treatment comprising alkali, permanganate, dichromate, silane and bleaching
pretreatment on Luffa sponge (LF) fibers intended to be used as reinforcement in an unsaturated polyester (UP) matrix
to improve the mechanical properties of Luffa sponge fibers reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Treatment
effects by NaOH (5 wt%), K2Cr2O7 (0.2 wt%), KMnO4 (0.0125 wt%), NaClO (13°) and silane (0.5 wt%) on the
performance of the prepared composites were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray
diffraction (XRD), SEM and mechanical tests (flexural strength and modulus). The results of the analyses indicated that
composites reinforced with treated fibers have higher flexural strength than composites reinforced with untreated fibers
Description
Keywords
Luffa fiber, composite, alkali treatment, flexural strength