A study of epoxy green composites reinforced by natural plant fibers
| Autor: | Ji-Xuan Cai, 蔡季軒 |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Druh dokumentu: | 學位論文 ; thesis |
| Popis: | 98 In this study, the plant fibers and wasted fibers (pineapple leaf fiber, banana fiber and recycled disposable chopsticks fiber) with an average length from 2.3 to 3.9 mm were chemically modified by 3-minopropyltriethoxysilane (A1100). Subsequently, this modified fibers (20 wt%) and epoxy resin were mixed and cured to form novel fiber-reinforced green composites. The effects of addition of the plant fibers on the epoxy matrix, and the thermal and mechanical properties of plant fibers/epoxy resin green composites were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Thermogravimetic Analysis (TGA), Instron mechanical tester, Dynamic Michanical Analysis (DMA), Optical Electron Microscope(OEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FT-IR results showed that the absorption peak of Si-O-Si network structure was found at 1000 ~ 1100 cm-1 for coupling agent treated-fiber, indicating that the surface structure of the fiber was successfully modified by the treatment of coupling agent. TGA results showed that the decomposition temperatures of the chemically modified fiber-reinforced composites were obviously higher than those of untreated fiber-reinforced ones. The pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced composites exhibited better thermal properties than those of the other ones. Tensile test results showed that tensile strength was improved about 68% to 95% by adding alkali treatment plant fiber, and was improved about 80% to 117% while adding coupling agent treated plant fibers. The recycled disposable chopsticks fiber-reinforced composites possessed pronounced mechanical properties. DMA test results showed that the storage modulus (E'') and loss modulus (E'') were improved about 70 % and 87 % by adding coupling agent treated recycled disposable chopsticks fiber. The OEM and SEM results showed that the aggregation of fibers in the matrix can be reduced after alkali treatment process. Moreover, the coupling agent treatment process can enhance the interfacial adhesion and dispersion of plant fiber in the matrix. Furthermore, this type of reinforced epoxy would be more environment-friendly than the artificial additive-reinforced one. It can also reduce effectively and re-use the waste, as well as lowering the costs of the materials. |
| Databáze: | Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations |
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