The synergy of fiber surface treatment and nanoclay on the static mechanical and tribological behaviors of Palmyra fruit fiber/Montmorillonite nanoclay reinforced polyester hybrid composites

Abstract

This research paper aims to present the combined effect of fiber surface chemical treatments and Montmorillonite nanoclay addition on the mechanical and tribological properties of Palmyra fruit fiber reinforced polyester composites. The polyester composite specimens are made of untreated and chemically surface treated Palmyra fruit fiber as primary reinforcement and Montmorillonite nanoclay as secondary reinforcement. The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact behaviors and tribological properties such as specific wear rate and coefficient of friction are evaluated. The results are compared with specimens made without Montmorillonite nanoclay. The worn surface morphologies of the wear-tested samples are analyzed through scanning electron microscopic images to study the various wear mechanisms that persisted.