Fabrication of transesterified cured coir reinforced composites and evaluation of their properties

This article describes thefabrication of simple and hybrid composites of parent, alkali treated, transesterified and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) cured transesterified coir fibers. Simple and hybrid composites of coir fiber (20-35%) in chopped mat and glass fabrics (11%) along with unsaturated polyester resins (USP) were fabricated using catalyst (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) and accelerator (cobalt naphthenate) under appropriate reaction conditions. Similarly, USP resin sheets(cured polyester sheets)were fabricated using USP, catalyst, and accelerator. Resin content, density and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of fabricated composites and cured polyester sheets were determined. The density data was directly related to the nature of chemical modification imparted onto coir fiber. Tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of composites fabricated with transesterified and BPO cured transesterified coir along with matrix resin (USP) have higher values in comparison to the composites fabricated with using parent coir along with matrix resin (USP). The data of the mechanical properties are self-explanatory on the basis of the interfacial bond strength between the coir fibers and the matrix resins. Such bond strength between coir fiber reinforcing candidate and the matrix resins as predicted be attributed to the nature of chemical modification imparted onto fiber and hydrophobicity of modified coir.