DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE MODIFIED UNSATURATED POLYESTER COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH CHICKEN FEATHER FIBRE

Unsaturated polyester matrix modified with maleic anhydride is loaded with different chicken feather fibre loadings from 0% to 40%. The composite materials were exposed for dielectric study in a wide range of frequencies from 60Hz to 1MHz. All of the composite materials exhibited the characteristics of having high dielectric values at lower frequencies, which gradually reached significantly lower values at higher frequencies. This composite material appeared to have good stability of dielectric properties at a high frequency of 1MHz, and can be potentially proposed for use as a high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) material. FTIR analysis indicates high compatibility between maleic anhydride and unsaturated polyester, to form strong bonding with the hydroxyl group of the fibre. SEM analysis specifies the good penetration of the monomer to the cell wall, eliminating voids on the matrix.