ENHANCING THE MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF ABACA FIBER/GRAPHITE BIOCOMPOSITES THROUGH ALKALI AND SILANE SURFACE MODIFICATION
This study develops and characterizes abaca fiber (AF)/graphite/unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) biocomposites, investigating the effect of vinyltrimethoxysilane (TVS) coupling agent (0–8 wt%) on their physical, mechanical, andthermal properties. After alkaline and silane functionalization, the abaca fibers were prepared for molding. Thecomposites were then held at 50 bar for 24 hours via compression molding. FTIR analysis confirmed successful silane bonding through enhanced Si–O–C absorption at 825 cm-1 , while SEM observations revealed a morehomogeneous fiber–matrix interface with reduced voids. The application of silane treatment yielded a substantial improvement in composite characteristics. The modified specimens exhibited an increased density of 1.448 g/cm3 , while concurrently demonstrating a reduction in water absorption and thickness swelling to 4.12%and 3.00%, respectively. Characterization results revealed optimal mechanical behavior. The specimens achieved a tensile peakof 35.194 MPa. Flexural performance was also high, measuring 80.264 MPa. TGA results further indicatedimproved thermal stability in silane-treated composites. These findings demonstrate that surface-engineered natural fibers can overcome interfacial incompatibility-one of the primary limitations in natural fiber composites—whileachieving performance comparable to synthetic counterparts. Leveraging graphite as a functional filler allows for thedevelopment of resilient materials tailored for the automotive and packaging industries, specifically addressingtheneed for low water vapor permeability and high load-bearing capacity. From an academic perspective, this studyprovides a reproducible framework for silane-based interfacial engineering applicable to other agro-industrial fibers, while supporting circular economy strategies through the valorization of agricultural waste and advancingthedevelopment of low-carbon structural materials.
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