Novel Woven Sisal Fabric Reinforced Natural Rubber Composites: Tensile and Swelling Characteristics

Abstract

Textile composites are prepared by reinforcing natural rubber with woven sisal fabric. Sisal fabric is subjected to various chemical modifications like mercerization, silanation, and heat treatment, and its influence on the mechanical properties is analyzed. Tensile strength is seen to decrease with all chemical modifications except for composites prepared with heat-treated sisal fabric. The rubber/fiber interface is improved by the addition of a resorcinol-hexamethylene tetramine system to the rubber matrix. Equilibrium swelling experiments are carried out to assess the extent of interfacial adhesion. The swelling index parameter is evaluated. The hardness of the textile composites is analyzed. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies are conducted to evaluate fiber/matrix interface.