Manihot esculenta tuber microcrystalline cellulose and woven bamboo fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: mechanical, hydrophobic and wear behavior

Abstract In this research Manihot esculenta (cassava) tuber stem microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and woven bamboo fiber (WBF) reinforced unsaturated polyester (UP) composites are prepared and tested. The main aim of this study was to synthesis the microcrystalline cellulose from Manihot esculenta tuber stem and investigate the mechanical, wear and hydrophobic properties of UP resin composite made using MCC and WBF. The laminated composites were prepared by the hand layup method and characterized according to ASTM standards. According to the results, the composite containing 40 vol% of WBF increased the tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, interlaminar shear strength, Izod impact as well as hardness by 39%, 10%, 42%, 27%, 1%, 91%, and 1%, respectively as compare to pure polyester resin composites. In comparison to all composites, the composite with 4 vol% of MCC exhibits the lowest sp. wear rate of 0.011 mm³/Nm. The water absorption contact angle indicated that all composite designations had a wider contact angle of more than 70°, which indicates a stronger hydrophobicity of composites. The SEM fractography reveals improved bonding and toughness for 4 vol% of MCC and WBF reinforced UP composites. Such mechanically stronger, wear resistance, as well as high hydrophobic composites, could be used in aerospace, automobile, defence and industrial sector.