Effect of pretreatment with detergent on mechanical properties of photocured coir (Cocos nucifera) fiber with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 101; no. 3; pp. 1630 - 1636
• Main Authors: Khan, Mubarak A., Bhattacharia, S. K., Hassan, M. Masudul, Sultana, Abeda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05.08.2006; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; coir fiber; EGDMA; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; UV radiation; Monocotyledones; Surface reaction; Artificial fiber; Graft copolymer; Cocos nucifera; Plant fiber; Coconut fiber; Property processing relationship; Optimization; Natural fiber; Angiospermae; Water absorption; Acrylate copolymer; Pretreatment; EGDMA; Bifunctional compound; Photochemical grafting; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Tensile strength; UV radiation; Artificial ageing; Spermatophyta; Liquid solid reaction; Palmae; coir fiber
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.24026

Coir fibers were treated with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) mixed with methanol (MeOH) under UV radiation. A series of solutions of different concentrations of EGDMA in methanol along with a photoinitator, Irgacure‐500 (mixture of 1‐hydroxylcyclohexylphenylketone and benzophenonc), were prepared. Monomer concentration, soaking time, and radiation intensity were optimized in terms of polymer loading (PL) and mechanical properties. EGDMA (50%), 5 min soaking time at the 4th pass of radiation, produced higher PL and tensile strength (TS), and the values of PL is 17% and TS is 1.3 times of the nontreated one. Then, coir fiber was pretreated with detergent and then treated with the optimized monomer formulation, which exhibited a higher PL of 69% and produced TS of the coir fiber of 4.4 times of the nontreated one. Coir fiber pretreated with detergent along with UV radiation showed the highest TS, which is 18.2 times of nontreated one. Water uptake, degradable properties, and simulated weathering of treated and virgin fibers were also monitored, which showed that EGDMA treatment under UV radiation improved the degradable property. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1630–1636, 2006