Physico-Mechanical, Thermal, Morphological, and Aging Characteristics of Green Hybrid Composites Prepared from Wool-Sisal and Wool-Palf with Natural Rubber

Abstract

In the reported study, two composites, namely sisal-wool hybrid composite (SWHC) and pineapple leaf fibre(PALF)-wool hybrid composite (PWHC) were prepared by mixing natural rubber with equal quantities of wool with sisal/PALF in a two-roll mixing mill. The mixture was subjected to curing at 150 °C inside a 2 mm thick mold, according to the curing time provided by the MDR. The physico-mechanical properties of the composite viz., the tensile strength, elongation, modulus, areal density, relative density, and hardness were determined and compared in addition to the solvent diffusion and thermal degradation properties. The hybrid composite samples were subjected to accelerated aging, owing to temperature, UV radiation, and soil burial tests. The cross-sectional images of the composites were compared with a scanning electron microscopic analysis at different magnifications. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis was conducted on the hybrid composite to determine the possible chemical interaction of the fibres with the natural rubber matrix.