EFFECT OF AGING ON THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF SISAL-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

The effects of ageing on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of cardanol derivative of toluene diisocyanate (CTDIC) treated and untreated sisal/LDPE composites have been studied. The ageing properties of the sisal composites were compared to those of glass-fiber composites aged under identical conditions. The tensile properties and dimensional stability were evaluated under two different ageing conditions. In the first case, samples were immersed in boiling water for 7 h under atmospheric pressure; in the second case, samples were heated at 70 degrees C in an air circulating oven for 7 days. The mechanical properties, weights and dimensions of the aged samples were measured. It was noted that CTDIC-treated composites showed superior mechanical properties and better dimensional stability compared to untreated composites under identical ageing conditions. The greater resistance of the treated composites under different ageing conditions indicated the existence of an efficient interfacial area between the fiber and the polymer matrix.