{"title":"Enhanced long-term seawater aging resistance in epoxy/sisal fiber composites using MoS2 nanoparticles","authors":"Vatsalya Raghuvanshi, Mayank Singh, Srihari Dodla, Debashis Khan","doi":"10.1007/s13726-026-01619-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n <p>Durability remains a major challenge restricting the large-scale utilization of natural fiber-reinforced composites in marine environments. Continuous exposure to seawater often induces hydrolysis, matrix plasticization, fiber swelling, and fiber-matrix interfacial debonding, leading to severe deterioration in performance. In this work, the effect of molybdenum disulfide (MoS<sub>2</sub>) modification of epoxy resin on the seawater aging resistance of epoxy/sisal fiber (Ep/SF) composites was systematically investigated. Composite laminates were fabricated using the hand lay-up process and subjected to accelerated seawater immersion for two months. Characterization techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to elucidate structural and thermal modifications, with particular emphasis on the role of silane-treated fibers and MoS₂ incorporation. Mechanical performance was assessed through tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) measurements. Results demonstrated that MoS<sub>2</sub>-modified epoxy in conjunction with silane-treated sisal fibers exhibited superior resistance to seawater-induced degradation, maintaining higher mechanical integrity compared to untreated systems. Additionally, tribological analysis confirmed that these hybrid-modified composites displayed enhanced wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction. The findings indicated that MoS<sub>2</sub> modification reduced water absorption by 42.7% (from 1.302% in Ep/SF to 0.746% in SMoS<sub>2</sub>-Ep/SSF) and decreased the friction coefficient by 14.8% (0.27→0.23), with smaller reductions in tensile, impact, flexural, and ILSS properties after 2 months of seawater exposure.</p>\n <span>AbstractSection</span>\n Graphical Abstract\n <div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div>\n \n </div>","PeriodicalId":601,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Polymer Journal","volume":"35 8","pages":"1775 - 1795"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Iranian Polymer Journal","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13726-026-01619-x","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Durability remains a major challenge restricting the large-scale utilization of natural fiber-reinforced composites in marine environments. Continuous exposure to seawater often induces hydrolysis, matrix plasticization, fiber swelling, and fiber-matrix interfacial debonding, leading to severe deterioration in performance. In this work, the effect of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) modification of epoxy resin on the seawater aging resistance of epoxy/sisal fiber (Ep/SF) composites was systematically investigated. Composite laminates were fabricated using the hand lay-up process and subjected to accelerated seawater immersion for two months. Characterization techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to elucidate structural and thermal modifications, with particular emphasis on the role of silane-treated fibers and MoS₂ incorporation. Mechanical performance was assessed through tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) measurements. Results demonstrated that MoS2-modified epoxy in conjunction with silane-treated sisal fibers exhibited superior resistance to seawater-induced degradation, maintaining higher mechanical integrity compared to untreated systems. Additionally, tribological analysis confirmed that these hybrid-modified composites displayed enhanced wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction. The findings indicated that MoS2 modification reduced water absorption by 42.7% (from 1.302% in Ep/SF to 0.746% in SMoS2-Ep/SSF) and decreased the friction coefficient by 14.8% (0.27→0.23), with smaller reductions in tensile, impact, flexural, and ILSS properties after 2 months of seawater exposure.
期刊介绍：
Iranian Polymer Journal, a monthly peer-reviewed international journal, provides a continuous forum for the dissemination of the original research and latest advances made in science and technology of polymers, covering diverse areas of polymer synthesis, characterization, polymer physics, rubber, plastics and composites, processing and engineering, biopolymers, drug delivery systems and natural polymers to meet specific applications. Also contributions from nano-related fields are regarded especially important for its versatility in modern scientific development.
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