Sizing of discontinuous natural fibers: Effect of sizing approach and sizing concentration on composite properties

Wasti, Sanjita; Clarkson, Caitlyn; Johnston, Eric; Pu, Yunqiao (Joseph); Bhagia, Samarthya; Tekinalp, Halil; Ozcan, Soydan; Vaidya, Uday

doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109029

Sizing of discontinuous natural fibers: Effect of sizing approach and sizing concentration on composite properties

Journal Article · Thu May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109029· OSTI ID:2573308

Wasti, Sanjita ^[1]; ^[2]; Johnston, Eric ^[3]; ^[2]; ^[2]; Tekinalp, Halil ^[2]; ^[2]; Vaidya, Uday ^[4]

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), Knoxville, TN (United States)

Natural fiber reinforced composites (NFRCs) are gaining attention in automotive applications as an alternative to glass fiber composites due to their lightweight and renewable sourcing. However, the inherent hydrophilicity of natural fibers leads to poor compatibility with hydrophobic polymers which adversely affects the mechanical properties of the composites and can limit their application to non-structural parts. Sizing is a common approach used for synthetic fibers to improve the interface between fiber and matrix. However, there is limited study on the sizing of natural fibers, and hence the focus of this work. Here, in this study, two different approaches to sizing discontinuous coir fibers were investigated, namely; (1) ex-situ sizing and (2) in-situ sizing. A commercial polypropylene (PP) based sizing agent was used and the effects of varying sizing solution concentrations (1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 wt%) on the properties of the composites was studied. Results showed that composites prepared via the in-situ sizing process had better fiber–matrix adhesion and improved tensile properties compared to ex-situ sized composites. On studying the effect of different sizing concentrations on composite properties, we found that the tensile strength of the composites increased (by ∼ 42 %) up to 2.5 wt% sizing concentration (in solution) and then decreased. However, the impact strength decreased significantly on increasing the sizing content beyond 1.5 wt% (by ∼ 40 %). Additionally, the study was further extended to investigate the effect of sizing on different NFRCs (coir, banana, and cottonized hemp fiber) where effectiveness of sizing was found to be influenced by the fiber surface morphology.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; EE0006926

OSTI ID:: 2573308

Journal Information:: Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing, Journal Name: Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing Vol. 197; ISSN 1359-835X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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