Femiana Gapsari, Indradi Wijatmiko, Andoko Andoko, Kuncoro Diharjo, Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Suchart Siengchin
Environmental contamination poses a significant threat to the integrity of materials, including metals and composites. Addressing the degradation of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites necessitates effective management strategies, particularly in mitigating UV and water-induced deterioration. This study explores the efficacy of Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil (AESO) coating treatment following alkali treatment as a potential solution. Alkali treatment of Kapok fiber (KF) combined with polymer coating yielded composites exhibiting superior mechanical properties, particularly in tensile and flexural strength, following a 30-day aging period. Remarkably, the application of alkali and coating treatments led to a substantial enhancement in the mechanical strength of polyester composites, with the highest tensile strength recorded at 96.04 MPa. This represented a notable increase of 31.97% compared to untreated KF specimens. The observed enhancement in composite performance underscores the critical role of interfacial adhesion between fibers and the matrix, particularly under conditions of UV exposure and water immersion. Importantly, the study demonstrates that alkali treatment and polymer coating effectively mitigate degradation in Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, thereby offering promising avenues for enhancing their durability and longevity. © 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, State University of Malang, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia; Natural Composites Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok, Thailand