Characterization of Light Weight Epoxy Composites from Short Sansevieria Cylindrica Fibers

Sansevieria (genus) cylindrica (species) belongs to Agayaceae family plant fiber first time used as a reinforcing agent in the epoxy system. Fibre extracted from leaves, fairly lesser density, porosity, higher strength to weight ratio (hereafter called SCF) and these fibers were alkali-treated and yet impregnated on the epoxy system using wet hand lay up technique in order to compare with untreated fiber on performance. DMA, TGA, DSC, FTIR, SEM, degradation temperature, flexural and tensile tests were performed for untreated and alkali-treated epoxy composites using different SCF volumes viz. 1 vol.%, 5 vol.%, 7 vol.% and 9 vol.%. Alkali treated fibre were found to have higher initial and final degradation temperatures and flexural and tensile strength. The removal of the amorphous hemi-cellulose on alkali treatment was played an instrumental in improving properties. A 3 degrees C increase in glass transition temperature and decomposition temperature were recorded respectively and over all treated SCF composites reinforced on the epoxy were shown significant results than untreated. Storage modulus and tan delta were observed well at 9 vol.% treated SCF while flexural and tensile were increased by 35 and 13 % for SCF treated composites respectively.