"EFFECT OF ALKALINE TREATMENT TIME ON FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF ALFA FIBER/UNSATURATED POLYESTER COMPOSITE "

Environmental and energy conservation pressure has led to a dramatic increase in the need for economically feasible lightweight materials that can be better substituted for non-biodegradable materials in reinforced composites. To this end, this study examines composite materials prepared from unsaturated polyester resins reinforced with treated and untreated Alfa fibers. Fiber treatment was carried out by NaOH solution of 5% concentration at different times (1, 3, 5 and 24 h). The strength and flexural modulus of the composites were evaluated according to the ASTM D790 test method. The analytical results indicate that the fibers’ alkaline pretreatment time had a positive influence on the mechanical properties of the composites.