Synthesis and characterization of randomly oriented silane-grafted novel bio-cellulosic fish tail palm fiber–reinforced vinyl ester composite

Chemical silane treatment of cellulosic natural fish tail palm (FTP) fiber was experimentally established to have strong mechanical strength after removing hydrophilic ingredients to make it strongly interactable with a hydrophobic vinyl-ester matrix. Cellulosic FTP fiber in proportions ranging from 0 to 30% was reinforced to the vinyl-ester matrix, and the composite was produced using a compression molding technique. Chemical characterization of silane-treated FTP fiber and, thereupon, various mechanical tests of prepared composites were done to understand the interaction behavior of the fiber in the matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms an intense peak present for the silane-treated FTP fiber at 840 cm⁻¹ representing the Si–O–CH₃ structure, which causes improved interfacial properties. X-ray diffraction indicates that after silane treatment of FTP fiber, the crystallinity index increases by 61.3%, resulting in a stronger fiber. The results show that a maximum tensile strength of 109 MPa and flexural strength of 138 MPa were observed on the 30% silane-treated FTP fiber–reinforced composite due to the silane coupling agent promoting more chemical interactions between the FTP fiber and the composite matrix. Silane-treated bio-FTP fiber excellently provides a strong fiber to produce biocomposite-based products.