The effect of several chemical treatments, viz. organotitanate, zirconate, silane, and N‐substituted methacrylamide, on the properties of sisal fibers used as reinforcement in unsaturated polyester resin (∼50 vol%) was investigated. An improvement in the properties was observed when sisal fibers were modified with surface treatments. Under humid conditions, a decrease of 30 to 44% in tensile and 50 to 70% in flexural strength has been noted. The strength retention of surface‐treated composites (except silane) is high compared with untreated composites. It is observed that N‐substituted methacrylamide‐treated sisal composites exhibited better properties under dry as well as wet conditions. Fractographic evidence such as fiber breakage/splitting and matrix adherence on the pulled‐out fiber surface explains such behavior.

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