Chemical resistance, void contents, and morphological properties of Hildegardia fabric/polycarbonate‐toughened epoxy composites

Abstract

A uniaxial natural fabric of Hildegardia populifolia was used as a reinforcement for a polycarbonatetoughened epoxy. The Hildegardia fabric was treated with a 5% sodium hydroxide solution for 1 h. The fabric was spray-coated with a 1% silane-based coupling agent. The variation of the chemical resistance and void content with different fabric contents and fiber orientations was studied. The morphology of the fractured composites was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM micrographs indicate that the bonding between the Hildegardia fabric and the matrix was enhanced partially by the alkali treatment. The alkali treatment in the presence of the silane coupling agent gave rise to matrix skin formation on the surface of the fibers, which indicated good bonding between the reinforcement and the matrix. Hildegardia/polycarbonate-toughened epoxy composites were found to have reasonable chemical and water resistance. The liquid absorption increased when the fabric was treated with an alkali, when the coupling agent was used, and in the presence of water and aqueous solutions. The void content of the composites decreased with increasing fabric content.

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