Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of the Coir Powder Filled Polyester Micro-Composites

• Published in: Journal of natural fibers Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 1058 - 1068
• Main Authors: Karthik Babu, N. B., Muthukumaran, S., Arokiasamy, S., Ramesh, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.07.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Coir; coir filler; dynamic light scattering; Dynamic mechanical analysis; Emission analysis; Field emission microscopy; Fillers; Hand lay-up; Light scattering; mechanical characterization; Mechanical properties; micro-composites; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Photon correlation spectroscopy; Polyesters; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Scanning electron microscopy; Size distribution; Thermomechanical properties; 力学特性; 动态光散射; 动态力学分析; 微复合材料; 椰子填料
• DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2018.1555503
• ISSN: 1544-0478

Reinforcement of micro- or nano-fillers is the new key technique to enhance the mechanical properties of polymers. The present work pertaining to the thermo-mechanical behavior of micron range coir filler reinforced polyester matrix composites. The polyester micro-composites are manufactured by hand lay-up method in which the reinforcement is coir micro-fillers, which are uniformly dispersed in the polyester matrix. The following testing and characterizations were performed to predict the thermo-mechanical behavior of the micro-composites and pristine polymer: tensile and flexural tests, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The mechanical properties of micro-composites were attained highest when the filler reinforcements were maximum. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis shown the size distribution of coir micro-particles and the avg. size of coir micro-particles was 0.255 µm.