Sie befinden Sich nicht im Netzwerk der Universität Paderborn. Der Zugriff auf elektronische Ressourcen ist gegebenenfalls nur via VPN oder Shibboleth (DFN-AAI) möglich. mehr Informationen...
Mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of bend tested epoxy composites incorporated with alkali treated coir fibers
Ist Teil von
Tecnologia em Metalurgia, Materiais e Mineracao, 2010-01, Vol.20100726, p.2316-2324
Erscheinungsjahr
2010
Link zum Volltext
Quelle
Alma/SFX Local Collection
Beschreibungen/Notizen
Fibers extracted from the husk of the coconut, known as coir fibers, are being used in temperate and tropical regions, particularly in third world countries like Brazil, to fabricate composites for civil construction panels and automobile cushions, with a high aggregated value in the car industry. The objective of this work was to investigate the mechanical properties and the fracture characteristics of stoichiometric epoxy matrix composites incorporated with up to 30% in volume of alkali treated, NaOH mercerized, continuous and aligned coir fibers. The coir fibers were mercerized at two different solutions: 0.1% NaOH for 1 min and 10% NaOH for 1 hour. Three points bend tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis supported this experimental investigation for comparison between the two different treatments and non-treated coir fiber composites. The results showed that the treated coir fibers did not provide a reinforcement effect since the flexural strength of the epoxy matrix was not increased. It was also observed that composites with fibers treated with higher concentration of NaOH for longer time presented smaller flexural strength than those treated with lower concentration and time. The crack nucleation mechanism at the weak fiber/matrix interface as well as the obstacle caused by the continuous coir fibers to the propagation of these cracks are the mechanisms responsible for the composites mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics.