Development and characterization of date palm stem fiber – reinforced polyester composites with TiO2 filler material

Abstract

In this research, composites were developed using polyester as the matrix, DPSF as the reinforcement, and TiO2 as an additive. The fiber content was varied at 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt% with a constant 2 wt% of TiO2. The study focused on evaluating the tensile, flexural, compressive, impact, water absorption, and morphological characteristics of these composites. The results showed that increasing the DPSF content up to 25 wt% significantly enhanced the mechanical and impact properties of the composites. Specifically, the ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength, and impact strength of the polyester/DPSF/TiO2 composites reached 14.6 MPa, 28 MPa, 13 MPa, and 0.3 J/mm, respectively. However, further increasing the DPSF content to 30 wt% led to a notable rise in water absorption, reaching 26.25%. This suggests that while higher fiber content can improve mechanical properties, it also increases the composite’s susceptibility to moisture, which can compromise its durability. Overall, the study concluded that a 25% loading of DPSF is optimal for enhancing the mechanical and morphological characteristics of the composites without excessively compromising their resistance to water absorption. This study highlights the importance of date palm as a sustainable reinforcement in polymer composites, offering improved performance while addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional materials.