STUDIES ON AGEING CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL FIBRE REINFORCED NOVEL COMPOSITES BASED ON OLIVE OIL

Abstract

Fabrication of polymer composites by using natural fibres as reinforcement has increased dramatically in recent years. The properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites are generally governed by the manufacturing process and pre-treated process of the natural fibres. Fibre reinforced epoxy composites have been synthesised from anhydride based polyester olive oil resin, benzoyl peroxide, dimethyl aniline, and triethylene glycol dimethaacrylate, cotton and coir fibre. The polyester and their composites were characterised with FT-IR, ¹HNMR, ageing properties, soil burial test, and SEM analysis. These studies reveal the high performance of cotton and coir fibre reinforced composites with respect to the neat polyester.