Mechanical behavior of cold plasma–treated sisal and high‐density polyethylene composites

Abstract Sisal fibers and finely powdered high‐density polyethylene were surface functionalized with dichlorosilane on a RF(radio frequency)‐plasma reactor. Composites made from sisal and high‐density polyethylene were compounded using a thermokinetic mixer. The discharged mass was cooled, granulated, and injected molded into composite specimens for testing. The mechanical behaviors (tensile, impact and thermal dynamical mechanical properties) of composites made from cold plasma‐treated and untreated components are compared and discussed. The best mechanical performance was generally obtained for composites where only the inert thermoplastic matrix was plasma‐functionalized. Plasma treatment of lignocellulosic fibers seems to induce decomposition processes of the surface layers structures exposed to the plasma that generally does not contribute to significant improvement on the mechanical behavior of the composite.