The potential of using date palm fibres as reinforcement for polymeric composites

Abstract

Interfacial adhesion of natural fibres as reinforcement for fibre polymeric composites is the key parameter in designing composites. In the current study, interfacial adhesion of date palm fibre with epoxy matrix is experimentally investigated using single fibre pull out technique. The influence of NaOH treatment concentrations (0%-9%), fibre embedded length and fibre diameter on the interfacial adhesion property was considered in this study. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology and damage feature on the fibre and bonding area before and after conducting the experiments. The results revealed that 6% concentration of NaOH is the optimum solution for treating the date palm fibre to maintain high interfacial adhesion and strength with epoxy matrix. The embedded length of the fibre controlled the interfacial adhesion property, where 10 mm embedded length was the optimum fibre length.