Tannic acid treatment of natural fibers and its effect on moisture absorption and mechanical properties of subsequent composites

Abstract Composite materials enduring the rising needs of modern era have gained significant market share. However, the environmental burdens caused by the excessive consumption of synthetic material has become a crucial constraint. Natural fiber reinforced composites having biodegradable nature are being focused nowadays to make chain sustainable. Though reducing the performance gap between synthetic and natural fiber reinforcements always remains an area of interest. Natural fibers modifications are being performed using various treatments. Hence the study focused on analyzing influence of tannic acid treatment on moisture absorption and mechanical characteristics of flax and jute reinforced composites. Three different tannic acid concentrations were employed with two different processing times to check the effect of such treatment parameters. FTIR spectroscopy revealed attachment of aromatic rings and carbon double bond formation in the composites serving for properties enhancement. However, the mechanical properties elevated up to an optimum limit of concentration and processing time i.e., 1% concentration and 30 minutes of processing time were found feasible in obtaining viable tensile, flexural, and impact characteristics.