Thermo-oxidative stability and remarkable improvement in mechanical performance for styrenic-based elastomer composites contributed from silane-treated pineapple leaf fiber and compatibilizer

Composites of styrenic based thermoplastic elastomer reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber were prepared by melt mixing on a two-roll mill, sheeted out with preferred alignment of the fiber and molded in the form of composite sheet. The effects of silane treatment and compatibilizer on thermo-oxidative stability and mechanical properties were investigated. The silane-treated fiber and compatibilizer were found to enhance the thermo-oxidative stability of polymer. The mechanical properties of elasomer matrix were clearly enhanced with fiber loading. The role of surface treatment and compatibilizer was effectively functioned only along the longitudinal direction of fiber. Young’s and dynamic storage moduli (E′) along the fiber direction for the treated fiber composites with and without compatibilizer were comparable and much higher than those of the untreated fiber system. Tensile stress at 10–350% for the treated fiber composite was much higher than those of the matrix and untreated fiber composite. The tensile stress was further improved by the addition of compatibilizer. The obtained results suggested that both silane-treatment and compatibilizer were essential in prolonging the further improved tensile stress at high strain.