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The present work focused on thermal behavior of biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with untreated and benzoyl peroxide (BP) treated banana/sisal fibers (BSF) combination. Fabrication of biocomposites was performed by extrusion followed by injection molding. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectral technique ascertained the nature of bonding between BSF and PLA. The thermal properties of virgin PLA, UT‐BSF/PLA, and BP‐T‐BSF/PLA composites were studied by DSC and TGA analysis. DSC analysis indicated no significant changes in the glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) of virgin PLA, UT‐BSF/PLA, and BP‐T‐BSF/PLA composites and no sign of crystallization for both virgin PLA, UT‐BSF/PLA composites. However, crystallization was observed in BP‐T‐BSF/PLA composites. The BP‐T‐BSF/PLA composite exhibited a delayed thermal degradation pattern from TGA analysis when compared to that of UT‐BSF/PLA composites and virgin PLA as well. Further, the effect of BSF treatment and hybridization of BSF with PLA on the degree of crystallinity (Xc) were explored in detail. The above said composites were also investigated through scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs to examine the adhesion between the PLA and BSF. In addition, the results of SEM acquired are in good agreement with the data resulted from FTIR and thermal characterization. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1053–1062, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Polymers and polymer composites are steadily gaining ground over metals in the field of engineering applications in tribology. In the present study, the friction and wear behavior of glass fiberreinforced epoxy composites against stainless steel under dry sliding conditions has been comparatively evaluated on a friction and wear tester at different sliding velocities ranging from 0.6 to 2.5 m/s and normal force of 9.81 to 19.62 N. Besides, conventional weighing, determination of coefficient of friction (), temperature, wear rate, and examination of the worn surface features were taken by scanning electron microscope. Fuzzy clustering technique has been used to plot the wear rate and wear transition map. The tribological behavior of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites, the wear mechanisms and its relation with a wear transition map are discussed in detail.

In recent years, the fiber reinforced composites have been used more in tribological applications where the sliding surfaces requires a high wear resistance and a low co-efficient of friction. The growth of GFRP is significantly higher than that of steel. No engineer or designer can ignore the growth of GFRP, but the decision to use a new material is difficult, yet important. The comparative tribological performance of short and long glass fiber-epoxy composites, under varying load and sliding velocities, is reported in this investigation. Besides conventional weighing, the coefficient of friction, contact temperature, and wear rate were determined. The worn surfaces of the specimens were examined by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The wear mechanisms and the transitions that govern the tribological behavior of the composites between them are discussed in detail. It was found that the epoxy reinforced with a long glass fiber exhibited a reduced wear rate than the short glass fiber.

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