Abstract:
Natural fibers have been attracting researchers and engineers as an alternative reinforcement of synthetic fibers in
polymer composites due to their low cost, availability from natural resources, satisfactory high modulus and tensile
strength, and biodegradability. Filature silk waste (FSW) is the remnant part of the cocoons which is produced during the
silk forming process. The current study focuses on the comparison of tensile properties between untreated filature silk
waste reinforced epoxy-based composite (UTFSWREC), 2 wt% alkali-treated filature silk waste reinforced epoxy-based
composites (TFSWREC) and 2 wt% alkali-treated filature silk waste reinforced epoxy nanocomposites (TFSWRENC).
The tensile properties showed that Young’s modulus of composites increases with surface modification of fiber and
further enhances with nanoclay filler. TFSWREC and TFSWRENC displayed a higher tensile modulus than UTFSWREC.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the removal of the sericin layer from the surface of fiber, which resulted in
the separation of fibrils and further resulted in the enhancement of the mechanical properties. FTIR analysis confirmed
that intermolecular bonding improves with the chemical treatment and further refined with nanoclay filler addition.
