Effect of Mercerization on Mechanical Properties of Grewia Optiva Natural Fiber Polymer Composites

The concerns towards sustainable development have triggered the need of adopting biodegradable products in different applications. The natural fibers are being widely explored in the field of composites for various applications. Sustainable architecture is also seeking the research and development of new materials to minimize the negative environmental effect of the traditional structural materials. A bast fiber obtained from Grewia Optiva (G.O.) tree is abundantly available in the sub-Himalayan terrains and is still underutilized in the field of biocomposites. The promotion of G.O. fiber in fabrication of biocomposites may give a source of income and employment to rural hilly populations. This research work utilizes the G.O. fiber collected from the Okhalkanda block of Nainital district of Uttarakhand to develop biocomposites. The effect of mercerization on the water absorption behavior and mechanical properties has been also studied. It is found that the treatment of fibers with NaOH reduces the water absorption tendency of G.O. Natural Fiber Reinforced Biocomposites (NFRB) upto 41.05% and the mechanical properties are also improved by appreciable amount. The tensile and flexural strength obtained are 141.45 MPa and 109.84 MPa respectively for mercerized fiber reinforcement. Impact strength and mode-I fracture toughness have been recorded as 11.97 KJ/m2 and 1.85 MPa√m respectively. SEM images of fractured surfaces indicate good bonding of mercerized fibers as compared to untreated fibers with epoxy matrix. Hence the Grewia Optiva biocomposites have potential to be used in different architectural applications like wall panels, false ceilings, doors, windows, etc.