Mechanical and degradation characteristics of natural silk and synthetic phosphate glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

Degradable phosphate glass fiber is a synthetic fiber and silk is one of the strongest natural fibers. In this study, composites are fabricated from PP reinforced with phosphate glass fiber and silk fiber using compression molding. Tensile testing, flexural testing and impact testing are carried out to evaluate the composites mechanical properties. It has been found that silk fiber composites provided higher tensile strength (46 MPa), bending strength (50 MPa), and impact strength (17 kJ/m2) compared to glass fiber composites which are respectively 39 MPa, 46 MPa, and 8 kJ/m2. Degradation studies are carried out by accelerated weathering as well as by natural weathering. After weathering, the mechanical properties are evaluated and it has been found that phosphate glass fiber/PP composites degrade more rapidly compared to silk/PP composites.