Characterization of silane treated and untreated natural cellulosic fibre from corn stalk waste as potential reinforcement in polymer composites

Natural cellulosic fibres have significant potential as reinforcements to replace synthetic fibres applied in biopolymer composites. A natural cellulosic fibre was extracted from corn stalk waste and then it was treated by silane solution with different concentrations. The influences of silane on chemical, surface morphological and mechanical performances of Corn Stalk Fibre (CSF) as well as impact strength and impact fracture surface morphology of CSF reinforced polymer composites were evaluated in the present work. The chemical results showed that silane treatments remove a certain amount of hemicelluloses and lignin from the CSF surface, and increase the Crystallinity Index (CrI) and Crystalline Size (CrS) of the CSF. The CSF treated with 5 wt.% silane solution (5%STCF) presents a highest tensile strength of 223.33 MPa ± 41.22 MPa and Young's modulus of 18.98 GPa ± 2.43 GPa. The silane treatments can also improve the fibre-matrix interfacial bonding and enhance the impact strength of the polymer composites. The surface morphologies of the untreated and treated natural fibres and the impact fracture surface of the composites were examined by SEM.