Effect of fiber loading on the mechanical and physical properties of green bagassee-polyester composite

The main aim of this work is to fill unsaturated polyester resin with bagasse agricultural waste, as reinforcement, to prepare green woodene-polymer composites. Bagasse fibers were treated with 5% sodium hydroxide and then with dilute sulfuric acid. Bagassee-polyester composites were prepared by addition of 5, 10 and 15% of untreated and alkali treated bagasse fibers to polyester. The crosslinking reaction was performed using methyl ethyl ketone peroxide as a catalyst and cobalt octoate as an accelerator. The prepared composites were then exposed to post-curing at elevated temperature for completely crosslinking. The flexural behavior of the prepared composites was studied. An enhancement in the mechanical properties was achieved after chemical treatment. In addition, water absorption and chemical resistance were conducted showing that the produced bagassee-polyester composite with appreciable mechanical and physical properties is a new partner and cost effective material for many advanced industrial applications in addition to their environmental friendly behavior. Copyright (C) 2015, The Egyptian Society of Radiation Sciences and Applications. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.