Effect of coconut fiber treatment with limestone water media on the fiber surface, wettability, and interface shear strength

The development of technology has increased the need for composite materials, where materials with natural fiber reinforcement is growing. existence very abundant, and it not been fully utilized. Until now, use coconut was still limited to furniture household handicraft industries. Coconut coir potential as a raw material materials. lack strength bonds due hydrophobic fiber, surface less rough, dirty. This study evaluates characteristic its bounding polyester matrix after being treated by limestone water. scanning electron microscope used observing surfaces matrix. wettability test observe energy performed. Interface shear evaluate between fibers determined. were immersed in water, 5 % percentage time variations 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 hours. observations show that tends be clean, grooved. highest obtained at 40.74 mN/m during water immersion 8 value interface 3.80 MPa 8-hour immersion, 20-hour respectively, 3.02, 3.09, 3.52, 3.47, 4.40 MPa. results showed hours had grooved so bond better. research shows can treatment medium which