SISAL

About: SISAL is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1878 publications have been published within this topic receiving 55528 citations.

Influence of the Degradation Medium on Water Uptake, Morphology, and Chemical Structure of Poly(Lactic Acid)-Sisal Bio-Composites.

Abstract: A series of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic acid)-based bio-composites (sisal PLA) were prepared and studied by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques as such and after immersion at room temperature in different degradation mediums (i.e., distilled and natural sea water and solutions at pH = 2, 6, and 8). In these conditions, some of their macroscopic and microscopic properties were monitored during a period of 30 days. Water absorption increased with the increasing fiber content regardless of the immersion medium. The maximum water absorption was achieved at pH = 8 (~16%), indicating a more severe action of the alkaline mediums on the samples. The diffusivity, D, of PLA decreased with the addition of fibers and acidic mediums showed higher D, indicating higher diffusivity of water through the specimens with respect to those submerged in moderate or alkaline mediums. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis evidenced a weak interaction between the PLA matrix and the sisal fibers. Very limited degradation phenomena occur in our conditions: Despite some changes in the microstructure, the PLA backbone seems to be largely resistant to hydrolysis, almost regardless of the pH value and even at the highest sisal content.

Influence of surface treatment on hybrid wollastonite-polyethylene composite resins for rotational moulding

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to develop a reinforcing material for polyethylene-based composite manufacture by rotational moulding. Wollastonite, sisal fibres and PE are premixed by blending and compounding with a single screw extruder and then granulated to particles with diameter about 0.5 mm prior to rotational moulding, for which the mixture is placed in a mould that is heated from the outside to 250 °C for a period of about 10 min. Aminosilane was used as a surface treatment for wollastonite. It was found that incorporating wollastonite microfibres improved the tensile properties of the system. When wollastonite fibres were coated with aminosilane, the impact strength and processability were enhanced greatly. Sisal fibres were added to improve the impact properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed good adhesion between the coated fibre reinforcement and the polyethylene matrix at the fracture surface. The mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.

Effect of microwave radiation on the macromolecular, morphological and crystallographic structures of sisal fiber

Abstract: Experiments have been performed to find out the effectiveness of the microwave radiation on the modification of the sisal fiber. The idea of taking the high frequency microwave for modification of the sisal is fueled by the present environmental and energy crisis. Physical properties of the fiber have been modified significantly after microwave irradiation under different conditions in terms of power and time. Macromolecular parameters of the fiber are characterized by the Small angle X-ray Scattering characterization (SAXS) technique. These parameters have been found to be changed significantly after the microwave heat treatment as compare to the raw fiber. The fibers that are irradiated for 4 min under 320 W microwave power (320W4) are found to have least distortion, defect, enhanced density, surface roughness, improved crystallinity, and hydrophobicity. However, the degradation of the structural component and crystallinity of the fiber are observed at higher power and higher treatment period. The chemical structure of the microwave treated fiber does not change much except at higher power and prolong treatment period.