1. Université Cadi Ayyad, Laboratoire de chimie bioorganique et macromoléculaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques – Guéliz, av. A. El Khattabi, BP 618, Marrakech, Morocco;2. INSA, Laboratoire des Matériaux Macromoléculaires/IMP, 21 av. Albert Einstein, 69621 Villeurbanne, France;3. Université du Québec en Abitibi, Département des Sciences Appliquées, Noranda, Québec, Canada;4. Ecole Fran?aise de Papeterie et des Industries Graphiques (EFPG‐INPG), BP 65, 38402 St Martin d'Hères Cedex, France
Abstract:
Lignocellulosic fibers from date palm trees were employed to reinforce an epoxy matrix. Two fiber sizes were used, with the length and diameter in the range of 20–30 and 1.5–3 mm, respectively, for the so‐called long fibers, and in the range of 5–15 and 0.25–0.75 mm, respectively, for the so‐called short fibers. The morphologies of the resulting composites, as well as their thermal, mechanical, and water sorption properties were evaluated. Strong interactions between both components and etherification reactions may occur between the hydroxyl groups of the fibers and the epoxy groups of the epoxy‐amine reactive mixture. These effects are emphasized when decreasing the size of the fibers.
