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 sta bility of cardanol derivative of toluene diisocyanate (CTDIC) treated and untreated sisal/LDPE composites have been studied. The ageing prop erties of the sisal composites were compared to those of glass-fiber c omposites aged under identical conditions. The tensile properties and dimensional stability were evaluated under two different ageing condit ions. 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 comp osites under identical ageing conditions. The greater resistance of th e treated composites under different ageing conditions indicated the e xistence of an efficient interfacial area between the fiber and the po lymer matrix.