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Alkali-treated date palm fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: thermo-mechanical performances and structural applications

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Abstract

Using short untreated and alkali-treated date palm fibers (UDPF and TDPF) of 5–10 mm with fractions of 10, 20, and 30% (by weight), the unsaturated polyester (UP) filled with date palm fibers (DPFs) was produced for eco-friendly technology. The composite reinforced with 10% (by weight) TDPF achieved the highest tensile and flexural strengths (28.52 and 76.36 MPa, respectively), whereas the composite produced with 30% (by weight) TDPF achieved the maximum tensile, flexural moduli, and Izod impact strength (770.77, 4200.23 MPa, and 8.48 kJ/m2, respectively). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs demonstrated the improved adhesion between the UP and TDPF. In addition, the first thermal degradation (Tonset) of UP/10TDPF, UP/20TDPF, and UP/30TDPF composites, increased at their respective 4.65, 21.47, and 16.29 °C after alkali treatment. A dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed respective maximum storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E″) values of 2542 and 243.29 MPa for the UP/10TDPF composite. In addition, the introduction of 10% (by weight) DPF decreased the Tg value, suggesting that the addition of fiber only had a plasticizing effect. However, for the UP/30DPF composites, the Tg values exhibited a positive shift, emphasizing the effectiveness of the fibers as a reinforcing agent. Moreover, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed a significant increase in glass transition temperature (Tg) due to the effect of alkali treatment of DPFs, while water absorption for a UP/10TDPF composite had the lowest weight variation due to the decrease in fiber loading and alkali treatment. These composites fabricated using TDPF as renewable natural resources with enhanced performance could be beneficial in a wide range of industrial applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Antoine Kervoelen, Anthony Magueresse, and Francoise Peresse for supporting this experimental work with the characterization methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Chimie, Université Hassiba Ben Bouali de Chlef, 02180, Chlef, Algeria

    Samira Maou, Izzeddine Bouchamia & Aimen Benyaghla

  2. Ecole Normale Supérieure de Boussaada, 28201, Boussaada, Algeria

    Yazid Meftah

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  1. Samira Maou
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MS: writing—original draft, methodology. MY: writing—original draft, supervision. BI: writing—review & editing. BA: methodology.

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Correspondence to Samira Maou.

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Maou, S., Meftah, Y., Bouchamia, I. et al. Alkali-treated date palm fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: thermo-mechanical performances and structural applications. Iran Polym J 32, 1581–1593 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01224-2

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