Evaluation mercerization process in a compound of polyester pesin and keratin fiber

Abstract

In this study, the effect of mercerising investigated and the percentage by weight of keratin fiber (human hair) on the tensile strength in laminated polyester matrix, the mercerization is performed using sodium hydroxide at concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 w / v, the weight percentages were 2.5,5,10 fiber and 15%, these laminates were obtained by a manual process (HLU), the dimensions of the plates obtained were 20 * 2.5 cm length and width, the thickness determined by the amount of fiber used, the specimens tested were bone-shaped, according to this ASTM standard D638-01. From the results it was determined that the mercerizing treatment did not improve the tensile strength of the laminate, but the increase of the weight percent increase keratin if that property. The highest values of tensile strength were obtained with the composites reinforced with 15% fiber without chemical modification achieving mean values of 112.44 MPa of tensile strength, however the matrix polyester unreinforced yielded us an average value of 3901 MPa of tensile strength. Whereas fiber reinforced composites of keratin and chemical treatment mercerizing, reported very low values of 30.28 MPa tensile strength, in the worst case (10% NaOH and 2.5% by weight of fiber); This reflects a decrease of 22.37% compared to the unreinforced polyester matrix.