Mechanical properties of continuous natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites

The mechanical behaviour high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with continuous henequen fibres (Agave fourcroydes) was studied. Fibre-matrix adhesion was promoted by fibre surface modifications using an alkaline treatment and a matrix preimpregnation together with a silane coupling agent. The use of the silane coupling agent to promote a chemical interaction, improved the degree of fibre-matrix adhesion. However, it was found that the resulting strength and stiffness of the composite depended on the amount of silane deposited on the fibre. A maximum value for the tensile strength was obtained for a certain silane concentration but when using higher concentrations, the tensile strength did not increase. Using the silane concentration that resulted in higher tensile strength values, the flexural and shear properties were also studied. The elastic modulus of the composite did not improve with the fibre surface modification. The elastic modulus, in the longitudinal fibre direction obtained from the tensile and flexural measurements was compared with values calculated using the rule of mixtures. It was observed that the increase in stiffness from the use of henequen fibres was approximately 80% of the calculated values. The increase in the mechanical properties ranged between 3 and 43%, for the longitudinal tensile and flexural properties, whereas in the transverse direction to the fibre, the increase was greater than 50% with respect to the properties of the composite made with untreated fibre composite. In the case of the shear strength, the increase was of the order of 50%. From the failure surfaces it was observed that with increasing fibre-matrix interaction the failure mode changed from interfacial failure to matrix failure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.