Tensile Properties and Thermal Degradation Parameters of Polyalthia Cerasoides Natural Fabric Reinforcement

The natural uniaxial fabric from the bark of the tree Polyalthia cerasoide was extracted. The fabric was treated with 5% aqueous NaOH solution. The primary thermograms of both untreated and the alkali treated fabrics were recorded in an inert atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min. Using these thermograms, the initial and final degradation temperatures and inflection points were calculated. Employing the Doyle method, the integral procedural degradation temperature and refractoriness were also determined. The thermal stability was found to slightly increase on alkali treatment. The morphology of the fabric before and after alkali treatment was studied. The tensile parameters — maximum stress, Young’s modulus, and percent elongation at break — were also determined for both untreated and alkali treated Polyalthia Cerasoides fabrics. An improvement in tensile properties was observed on alkali treatment.