Degradation study on unsaturated polyester and citronella fibre composite

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of degradation in soil burial test and natural weathering on the mechanical properties of an unsaturated polyester/citronella fibre composite. The citronella fibre were undergone alkaline treatment before fabrication. Different ratio of composite were prepared with 5,10,15,20 and 25 phr of Citronella fibre. Then all the samples will be subjected to degradation mechanism which are natural weathering and soil burial. Samples were tested after 3 months exposure in order to assess their tensile and flexural properties, impact strength, hardness value and morphology analysis. Experimental results evidenced that degradation caused deterioration of polymer, decreasing their mechanical properties. The results showed that tensile and flexural properties of the UPE/CF decreased progressively with the increase in fibre content and exposure time to degradation. Impact strength and harness also affected by the degradation as the value also decrease after the exposure. Examinations of the fracture surface of the specimen under SEM revealed the deteriorated matrix after exposed to soil burial test and natural weathering.