APPLICATION OF SILANE COUPLING AGENTS TO ABACA FIBERS FOR HYDROPHOBIC MODIFICATION

In this study, two organotrialkoxysilane coupling agents: 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMPS) and octyl triethoxy silane (OTES), were employed for hydrophobic modification of abaca fibers.This approach was deemed to address the inherent hydrophilicity of abaca fibers, which limits their ability to serve as filler for polymer composites.Hydrophobized abaca fibers can discourage high moisture absorption, which usually causes poor fiber dispersion and fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion in fiber reinforced polymer composites.Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements and significantly higher contact angles exhibited by the fibers modified with these silane agents, compared to those of untreated abaca, verified the successful hydrophobic modification of the fiber materials.