Thermo-mechanical properties of low-cost “green” phenolic resin composites reinforced with surface modified coir fiber

The focus of this work was the possibility to expand the use of coir fibers, as byproduct of the coconut industry by turning them into new eco-composites. The evaluation of coir fiber-reinforced composites focuses on the chemical treatment and processability of the coir fiber, how well it interfaces with a phenolic resin as Bakelite, and an analysis of how the mechanical properties of the final product change when adding treated coir fibers. The results show that the flexural stress value of composite shows a stabilization and the ductile behavior of composites was improved around 34.45% as compared to the neat Bakelite matrix. However, dynamic mechanical analysis showed a change in the rheological properties of the biocomposites with increasing temperature and fiber loading; the increase of temperature tends to enhance the free volume of the system and thereby decreases the fibers-matrix adhesion surface leading to decrease the complex modulus. This study represents a new opportunity to valorize biomass residues into green materials, which could reduce domestic dependence on petroleum-based thermoplastics.