Tensile properties of ligno-cellulosic fabrics coated with styrenated polyester resin

Ligno-cellulosic fabrics from the tree Hildegardia populifolia were coated with styrenated polyester resin, and their tensile strength, elastic modulus, and the percent elongation at break were determined. The effects of sodium hydroxide and a silane-coupling agent on the tensile properties of the fabric were also studied. It was observed that the tensile strength and the modulus decreased whereas the percent elongation at break increased with coating. The coupling agent improved the properties of the untreated and polyester-coated fabric, but a reverse trend was observed when the fabric was treated with sodium hydroxide. The possible reasons for this behavior are discussed.