Synthesis and Characterizations of Silane Treated Grewia optiva Fibers

In recent years, interest has grown in natural fibers as promising materials for a number of applications, particularly in polymer composite materials because they offer a number of advantages such as nontoxicity, eco-friendliness, combustibility, light weight, and low cost. Surface modification of Grewia optiva fibers through silane treatment as a simple and convenient method using aminopropyl triethoxy silane is introduced in the article. Natural fibers have been treated with silane coupling agent for evaluating their physico-chemical properties (swelling in different solvents, moisture absorbance, water uptake, and chemical resistance). Thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis/derivative thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA/DTG), SEM microscopy, and Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR) measurements were used as characterization techniques for evaluating the nature of these untreated/treated natural fibers. Also, polymer composites were fabricated using these fibers as reinforcing materials and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) as polymer matrix. The effect of fiber dimension on the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix resin such as tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, and wear resistance was evaluated. Polymer composites prepared were also evaluated for morphological, thermal, and physicochemical properties.