Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Coir Pith/Nylon/Epoxy Sandwich Composites

Multilayered coir pith/nylon fabric/epoxy hybrid composites were fabricated by the hand lay-up technique. Coir pith was subjected to chemical treatment before processing and the volume fraction of coir pith was maintained in the range of 60-65%. The effect of treatment was analyzed by SEM and optical microscopy. The effects of layering and treatment on the mechanical and water transport nature of composite were analyzed. The mechanical properties of the composite decreased on exposure to water. However, the retention of impact strength increased with chemical treatment of coir pith.