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Agave and sisal fibre-reinforced polyfurfuryl alcohol composites

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Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials

Published online on

Abstract

Agave Americana (agave) and Agave sisalana (sisal) fibres belong to the same family of natural fibres. Both the fibres were treated with alkali. Interestingly, alkali-treated agave fibres displayed a clean and smooth surface, whereas alkali-treated sisal fibres showed a rough surface due to the rupture of alkali-sensitive bonds. This indicated that the sisal fibres are more susceptible to alkali treatment as compared to agave fibres. The experimental studies of chemical composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were also carried out. Both alkali-treated agave and sisal fibres were used to reinforce polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) matrix. The effect of these fibres on the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of PFA composites was examined. Mechanical, thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The results indicated the improvement in mechanical and thermal properties of the reinforced PFA.