Abstract
This study presents the influence of fibre treatment and fibre loading on the mechanical, physical, crystalline, and thermal properties of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) reinforced polyester (PE) composites. Fibre treatment with NaOH modified the fibre surface from smooth to rough and KOH treatment induced fibrillation, as evident from micrographs of the elementary fibres. Fibre surface modification with NaOH helped in improving the fibre-matrix adhesion while it resulted in inferior damping characteristics for the composite. Composites with the KOH treated fibres were found to have superior damping characteristics and poor fibre-matrix adhesion. The compressive strength of composites produced with treated fibres was lower than the composite with untreated fibre and could only be improved with the addition of more fibres. Maximum compressive strength was observed for NaOH and KOH PALF/PE composites with 45 wt% fibre loading. Thermo-mechanical analysis indicated that PALF/PE composite with 45 wt% fibre loading displayed the least dimensional change indicating better dimensional stability. Superior vibration damping, dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical characteristics of the treated PALF/PE make them a promising candidate for applications requiring vibration damping characteristics and dimensional stability.