Degradation of dynamic mechanical properties of pultruded kenaf fiber reinforced composites after immersion in various solutions

This paper reports the effect of water absorption behavior on the dynamic mechanical properties of pultruded kenaf fiber reinforced composites (PKRC). Water absorption tests were conducted by immersing PKRC specimens into three different conditions at room temperature for a period of 24 weeks. Water absorption curves with diffusion coefficient ( D), maximum moisture content, M m and permeability coefficient, P were determined. The dynamic mechanical property of PKRC was found to be highly affected by the presence of absorbed water in the specimens. Morphological study using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) reveals that the fiber is highly exposed to the solution after 24 weeks of immersion.