PROPERTIES OF SISAL-CNSL COMPOSITES

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a natural monomer blend that has been condensation poylmerized with formaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to produce a thermosetting resin. Plain woven mats of mercerized sisal fibre have been impregnated with CNSL-formaldehyde resin to produce plain and corrugated laminated composites that have a mean tensile strength of 24.5 MPa and Young's modulus of 8.8 GPa. Bending tests have demonstrated that the corrugated composites have adequate strength for roofing applications. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis has been used to assess the effect of simulated sunlight on composites as a function of time. After long irradiation times it has been deduced that the resin component of the composite undergoes further cross-linking whilst the reinforcing cellulosic sisal fibres suffer some degradation.