369

17

Influence of Fiber Content in the Water Absorption and

Mechanical Properties of Sisal Fiber Powder Composites
Kátia Melo 1 , Thiago Santos 1 , Caroliny Santos 1 , Rubens Fonseca 1 ,
Nestor Dantas 2 , and Marcos Aquino 1
1
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Textile Engineering Laboratory, LABTEX, CEP 59078-970,
Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
2 Federal Institute of Rio Grande of Norte (IFRN), CEP 59015-000, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

17.1 Introduction
The materials are very important for technological development and can be man-
ufactured from various types of matrices such as polymers. Polymeric matrix
composites have been studied both academically and industrially. The use of nat-
ural fibers in these composites has also been increased because of the advantages
of these materials, which include low environmental impact, low cost, low den-
sity, and a wide range of applications [1–4]. Natural fibers are those which are
not of synthetic origin and are not man-made but can be extracted from plants,
for example [3, 5]. Of the plants are extracted the cellulosic fibers that can be
obtained from the bast, leaves, and even fruits, for example, fibers, flax, jute, and
sisal [3, 6, 7]. The sisal fiber is composed of 65.8% cellulose, 12% hemicellulose,
9.9% lignin, and 0.3% wax beyond some water-soluble compounds [8]. Is a very
strong fiber and is extracted from the plant leaf and has its use aimed at the pro-
duction of ropes and carpets, among others. During the processing of the sisal
fiber, residues of the fiber powder are generated, which are contaminated with
softener oils and also industrial oils from the equipment itself. As a result, this
material is not suitable for animal feed. According to authors, the composite of
sisal fiber has good potential because of its low cost, low density, high specific
strength, and modulus, without presenting health risk, besides being available in
some countries [9]. The diversity of polymeric matrix utilization is also an impor-
tant point for the manufacturing of sisal fiber composites. Several authors used
different resins such as polypropylene, epoxy, and unsaturated polyester [10–14].
Thus, the present work proposes to study the mechanical behavior of the com-
posite of sisal fiber powder contaminated with industrial oils and oil softener.
The polyester resin has good mechanical properties, such as the Young’s modu-
lus (MPa), tenacity (MJ/m3 ), stress (MPa), and strain (%) (values found previous
work). In addition, it is an easy resin to find and is of low cost. Therefore, the
unsaturated polyester resin was used for the manufacturing of composites of sisal

Hybrid Fiber Composites: Materials, Manufacturing, Process Engineering, First Edition.

Edited by Anish Khan, Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Mohammad Jawaid, Suchart Siengchin, and Abdullah M. Asiri.
© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Published 2020 by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
370 17 Influence of Fiber Content in the Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties

fiber powder in the present work. The mechanical properties analyzed in this
composite are mechanical in nature and water absorption.

17.2 Materials and Methods

The residue of the sisal fiber powder was obtained from the spinning process of
sisal industry, which contaminated with industrial oil and softener oil and was in
the form of a bush, as shown in Figure 17.1a. The bush was initially cut and pow-
dered in an industrial blender. Then, the material was subjected to the process of
separating the particles through the granulometric sieve with 16 mesh (1190 μm),
as shown in Figure 17.1b.

17.2.1 Mechanical Test

All samples of composites were fabricated using the particle size corresponding
to the residue of Figure 17.1b. The polymeric matrix used was the unsaturated
orthophthalic polyester resin (UP). The curing of the composite was performed
with the aid of the methyl ethyl ketone peroxide catalyst. The specimens were
fabricated with different fiber contents (2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%), for the study of the
physical and mechanical properties. The molds used were gypsum with a layer of
carnauba wax to facilitate the demolding of the samples. The tensile tests were
performed using the Tensolab 3000 dynamometer from MESDAN, according to
the current standard [15] at a rate of 10 mm/min. In this test were analyzed the
Young’s modulus at break (MOE), the stress, strain, and tenacity (Figure 17.2).

17.2.2 Water Absorption

The water absorption test was realized for the composite, and the density was
realized for the sisal powder. The density of the sisal powder was 1.17 ± 0.8 g/cm3 ,
performed according to the ASTM standard that uses the pycnometer method
[16]. For the water absorption test of the composite, the samples were submitted
to humidity, and Eq. (17.1) was used to determine the percentage of water

Figure 17.1 (a) Residue in sleeve and (b) residue after

powdered and sifted (particles).

(a) (b)

m
m 3 mm
25

250 mm

Figure 17.2 Scheme of the samples for tensile tests.

 17.3 Results and Discussion 371

absorbed [17]. The water absorption was performed for 24 hours with total
immersion of the sample (2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%) in water.
M f − Mi
Abs = × 100 (17.1)
Mi
where
Abs = Water absorption in %
Mi = Initial mass
Mf = Final mass

17.3 Results and Discussion

Figure 17.3 shows the mechanical behavior of the samples of composite (2.5%,
3.75%, and 5%) when submitted to tensile test. The different fiber contents are
linear and follow Hooke’s law. It can be seen that the stress increased linearly with
the increase in strain. From Figure 17.3 is perceived that all the samples presented
nonductile behavior [18].
However, it is perceived that the curvature of the deformation in the range
of 0.25–1.25% indicates that the samples 3.75% (9.54 ± 1.02 MN/m) and 5%
(10.32 ± 1.20 MN/m) have a significantly lower rigidity when compared to the
sample 2.5% (11.64 ± 1.02 MN/m). Also, all the samples presented rupture point
in 2.4% even with different fiber contents [19, 20].
In Figure 17.4, the stress results were shown for the samples of composites
reinforced with sisal powder (at 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%). The mean stress rates for
the samples were 0.54, 0.41, and 0.41 MPa for the samples with sisal powder

0.7 2.5%
3.75%
0.6 5%

0.5
Stress (MPa)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Strain (%)

Figure 17.3 Curve stress and strain of samples studied.

372 17 Influence of Fiber Content in the Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
Stress (MPa)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.4 Results of stress of the samples studied.

at 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%, respectively. In this way, the samples of sisal powder
at 2.5% (0.54 MPa) have shown a higher stress rate of 24.07% when compared
to the others samples (with sisal powder at 3.75% and 5%). Similarly, the maxi-
mum value was determined for the sample at 2.5% of the sisal powder and the
minimum values were obtained for others samples. It is perceived to the non-
linear behavior of the stress in relation to the fiber content (2.5%, 3.75%, and
5%) [21]. The results of stress indicated that the stress applied in the sample at
2.5% of sisal powder promoted significant mechanical interlocking for the trans-
fer of the charge from the polyester matrix (UP) to the sisal powder, where the
sisal powder content influenced the stress significantly. In this way, the smaller
sisal powder content promoted the high capacity of load transfer between the
particles of sisal powder. Otherwise, the increase in the powder content of sisal
promoted the accumulation of tension in the matrix (UP) favoring the rapid rup-
ture of the composites because, with the increment of sisal powder (3.75% and
5%), the spacing between the sisal powder particles becomes substantially lower
and the transfer of tension between the sisal powder and the resin (UP) becomes
inefficient [22, 23]. In the literature, Salman et al. [22] affirm that there is a max-
imum content for each reinforcing nature. Also, Kim et al. [24], in the study,
affirm that the resistance of the composites reinforced with fibers is influenced
by factors such as the amount of the reinforcement content that in extremely
high values deteriorates the composites; that is, the increase in the reinforcement
content causes a significant reduction in the final resistance of the composite,
as shown in the graph of Figure 17.3 for the samples at 3.75% and 5% of the
sisal powder.
The results shown in Figure 17.5 indicate that the rupture of the composite sam-
ples occurs at a lower strain rate with increasing content of sisal powder (2.5%,
3.75%, and 5%), favoring the regression increase in deformation. The composite
 17.3 Results and Discussion 373

4.0

3.5

3.0
Strain (%)

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.5 Results of strain of the samples studied.

samples with 2.5% of sisal powder content showed higher strain (2.8%) when
compared to the samples at 3.75% and 5% of sisal powder, being about 0.2% and
0.4% higher, respectively. The same behavior was obtained by Venkateshwaran
et al. and El-Shekeil et al. when studied the influence of the reinforcement content
and the length of the fibers in the mechanical properties of composites [25, 26].
In this way, it is demonstrated that the increase of reinforcement in the fibrous
composite promotes the improvement of stress properties (Figure 17.4) and
strain (Figure 17.5) until 2.5% of sisal powder content. Above this sisal powder
content, the composites exhibit less stress and strain, promoting the downward
trend [26, 27].
Figure 17.6 shows the MOE of the samples studied in relation to increase of
the sisal powder content in the polymeric matrix composites. The MOE of the
samples at 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5% of sisal powder shows the behavior inversely
proportional to the reinforcement content of sisal powder in composites.
Similarly, the samples of composite at 2.5% of sisal powder content show higher
MOE (0.019 MPa), which show more rigid behavior when compared to samples
at 3.75% and 5% of sisal powder, being about of 19% and 12% bigger, respectively.
As observed in the composites at 3.75% and 5% of sisal powder, the MOE is lower
because of the high sisal powder content. This is due to the presence of excessive
sisal powder, which promotes low interaction between the reinforcement and the
matrix because of the large surface area of the sisal powder particles, reducing
the mechanical properties of the composite [28]. Some authors such as Ku
et al. [27] and Haque et al. [29] obtained in their studies that the increase of
the reinforcement content promoted the significant increase in the MOE of
the composites [27]. However, Jamel H. Alexander [28] obtained results similar
to those obtained in this work, showing that MOE increases as a result of the
reduction of the particle content.
374 17 Influence of Fiber Content in the Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties

0.024

0.022

0.020
MOE (MPa)

0.018

0.016

0.014

0.012
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.6 Results of MOE of the samples studied.

7.0

6.5

6.0
Energy berak (J)

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.7 Results of energy break of the samples studied.

Figure 17.7 shows the energy break results of the studied samples in relation
to the increase of the sisal powder content in the polymer matrix composites.
Then, the energy break of the samples (at 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5% of sisal powder)
showed a behavior inversely proportional to the reinforcing content of sisal in
the composites. Thus, the energy break of the composites decreased slightly with
the increment of the powder content of sisal, in which, the energy break in the
samples of composites with sisal powder at 3.75% and 5% significantly reduced,
as shown in Figure 17.7. The samples of composites with 2.5% of sisal powder
 17.3 Results and Discussion 375

1.0

0.8
Tenacity (MJ/m3)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.8 Results of tenacity of the samples studied.

contents obtained the highest values of breaking energy (5.94 J) when compared
to the other samples 3.75% and 5%, being about 41% and 54% higher, respec-
tively. Ma et al. [30], in the tests with thermoplastic matrix composite (TPS),
have obtained that the energy break of the composite increases proportionally
to the addition of the reinforcing content. However, Dobrzański et al. [31], in the
tests with composite of polypropylene matrix, obtained results similar to those
presented in Figure 17.7, showing that the addition of the reinforcement content
promotes a decrease in the break energy [27].
Posteriorly, Figure 17.8 shows the tenacity results of the samples of composites
reinforced with sisal powder at 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%. It is observed that the
tenacity of the samples of composites was significantly reduced with increasing
reinforcement content (2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%). Therefore, the samples of com-
posites with 2.5% of sisal powder content obtained higher values of tenacity
(0.75 MJ/m3 ) when compared to the other samples 3.75% (0.39 MJ/m3 ) and 5%
(0.42 MJ/m3 ), being about 92% and 79% higher than the samples, respectively.
Similarly, the increased content of sisal powder promotes a negative effect
on composite samples (3.75% and 5%). Alam et al. [32] and Wong et al. [33]
obtained values different from those obtained in this work, but Wong affirms
that the tenacity of composites is higher when using low reinforcement content
in the matrix of the composite. This occurs because the crack propagation rate
is significantly reduced because of the high tenacity, that is, higher stress–strain
values. Therefore, the samples at 2.5% sisal powder content promote greater
obstacle by reducing the propagation speed of cracks [33, 34].
Finally, the results in Figure 17.9 show that the water absorption of the compos-
ite increased according to the increased content of sisal powder (2.5%, 3.75%, and
5%). Therefore, the composites at 5% of sisal powder content show higher absorp-
tion of water (1.7%) when compared to other samples [35, 36]. Ibrahim et al. [37],
376 17 Influence of Fiber Content in the Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties

2.4

2.0
Water absorption (%)

1.6

1.2

0.8

0.4
2.5% 3.75% 5%
Fiber content (%)

Figure 17.9 Results of water absorption of the samples studied.

in this work, have shown similar results to those obtained in this research, and
Jha et al. [35] explains that the increase in reinforcement content in natural fiber
composites exhibits good water absorption properties because of the increased
number of hydroxyl groups and microvoids [35].

17.4 Conclusions
Reinforced polymer matrix composites (UP) with three sisal powder contents
(2.5%, 3.75%, and 5%) were prepared with 16 mesh particle size, aiming to evalu-
ate the influence of the powder residue content of sisal in the mechanical proper-
ties and in the absorption of water. Samples with 2.5% sisal powder content were
found to be optimal when compared to others. For their mechanical properties,
the tensile strength shows that the samples with 2.5% sisal powder content in the
UP matrix increase the tensile strength, deformation, rigidity, MOE, breaking
energy, and toughness, as well as exhibit low water absorption when compared
to samples with 5% sisal powder content. Thus, the increment of sisal powder
promotes reduction in mechanical properties and increase in water absorption
in particulate polymer matrix composites. Finally, lower percentage by weight
of sisal powder content promotes better mechanical properties and lower water
absorption percentages, that is, the increase of the sisal powder content exhibits
behavior inversely and directly proportional in the mechanical properties and in
the percentage of absorption of water, respectively.
 References 377

Acknowledgments
This research was supported by Sisaltec Indústria de Sisal and for Federal Uni-
versity of Rio Grande do Norte. We thank our colleagues from Textile Quality
Control Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte for the
availability of the laboratory.

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