Effect of Filler Content of Chemically Treated Short Bagasse Fiber-Reinforced Cardanol Polymer Composites

In this work, the sugarcane bagasse fiber was used as a filler to make a new type of biodegradable composite, using the cardanol resin, as a fully biodegradable thermosetting polymer matrix. Biocomposite performance was improved by chemically modified bagasse fiber using alkaline treatment. Two sets of composites were prepared with a fiber length of 10 and 20 mm with various weight percentages viz., 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 of cardanol resin using a compression molding machine. The mechanical properties were studied using some tests and the morphological study in flexural fractured specimens was carried out using SEM. The thermal properties of biodegradable polymer composites were evaluated using TGA. The chemical formation of the new biocomposites was also examined by the FT-IR spectroscopy technique. The result proved that the morphology of the composites has improved the bonding between the fiber and resin, thus leading to enhancement of the mechanical properties. The result had shown the tensile and flexural strength with an increase in the range of bagasse fiber up to 15 wt% in both the sets. The TGA results showed that biocomposites of 15 wt% in both sets had the highest thermal stability. This investigation recommended the possibility of introducing bio-fiber obtained from waste agricultural residues in polymer matrix composites.