Effects of Alkali Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Continuous Long Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

The woven PP/sisal fabric was prepared by warp of the Polypropylene filament and weft of the continuous long sisal fiber.PP/Sisal fabric was surface modified by different concentrations of sodium hydroxide solution.The composites of continuous long sisal fiber reinforced polypropylene were prepared by compression moulding techniques.The surface morphology of sisal fiber before and after alkali treatment was observed by SEM.The effects of different concentrations alkali treatment on the mechanical properties of the composites of continuous long sisal fiber reinforced polypropylene were studied.The results showed that alkali treatment etched the surface of sisal fiber and it had obvious influence on dynamic thermal mechanical properties,tensile properties and flexural properties of polypropylene composites reinforced by continuous long sisal fiber.