Effect of Fibre Loading on Urea-formaldehyde Matrix Based Green Composites

Renewable resources in the field of fibre-reinforced polymeric materials with their new range of applications represent an important basis in order to fulfil the ecological objective of creat ing eco-friendly materials . Because of their low density, renewable origin, relatively high specific strength, light weight, unlimited availability, low price, resistance to corrosion and abrasion, ease of processing, good mechan ical performance and problem-free disposal , natural fibres offer a real alternative to the technical reinforcing fibres presently available. Keeping in mind these immense advantages of natural fibres, in the present communication a study on the fabrication of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HS) fibre reinforced urea-formaldehyde matrix based polymer composites has been reported. Urea-formaldehyde resin matrix was prepared by the technique developed in our laboratory. Urea-formaldehyde matrix was reinforced with Hibiscus Sabdariffa fibres to prepare natural fibre reinforced composites. These polymer composites were subsequently subjected to evaluation of their mechanical, morphological (SEM) , and thermal (TGAlOTAlOTG) properties. Present work reveals that mechanical propert ies such as: tensile strength , compressive strength, flexural strength, and wear resistance, etc. of the composite increase with increase in fibre loading up to 30% loading and beyond this loading these properties decrease. In case of morphological (SEM) behaviour, morphological results clearly show that when polymer resin matrix is reinforced with the different loadings of fibre, morphological change takes place depending on loading of the fibre. In case of thermal behaviour, results indicate that the presence of cellulose fibres affects the thermal stability of polymer matrix. The lOT and FOT values for composite have been found in between those of matrix and the fibre which indicate that the composite is thermally slightly less stable as compared to resin matrix .