Kiran Kailas R, Rohan K, Aman Anfid, Midhun Varma, Sharan Chandran, Anoop Kumar M
The demand for eco-friendly, lightweight and low-cost materials has increased interest in composites as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fiber reinforced composites. However, the hydrophilicity and poor interfacial bonding of biofibers need surface treatment to enhance their adhesion with polymer matrices. This study investigates the effect of combined alkali and glow discharge air-plasma treatment on banana and pineapple leaf fibers reinforced with epoxy and 0.3% reduced graphene oxide nanofillers. The composites were fabricated and analyzed for the mechanical properties, water absorption rate and fractographic examination of composite samples using a 3D microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Significant enhancements in the mechanical properties were observed at combined alkali and long-duration plasma treated composites. Pure pineapple composites exhibit enhancements of 97.9% in tensile strength, 70.21% in flexural strength, and 22% in impact strength, while pure banana composites show enhancements of 26% in tensile strength, 17% in flexural strength, and 49.5% in impact strength compared to alkali alone surface treated fiber reinforced composites. The water absorption analysis revealed a reduction in the water absorption rate for long-duration plasma-treated fiber-reinforced composite samples. The fractographic analysis revealed the reduced fiber pullout, fiber breakage and delamination which results in improved interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix.