Fiber Composite

what is composite?
- composite is a material that is made from several different substances.
for examples, plastic-wood composite is a material that made from plastic and wood.
in between this 2 component there are a region that we call interface region.

what is interface region?
- interface region is a region that stay in between two different component in one composite
- interface region is important to determine the performance of a composite
- interface region is responsible to transfer stress from one component to another.
- in another words, good interface region properties will increase the stress transfer efficiency

properties of interface region can be improve/modify by adding coupling agents or undergoes surface modification (physically or chemically).

what is coupling agents?
- it is a chemical reagent with 2 characteristic.
- coupling agents normally also act as interface region

For example; The properties of wood is hydrophilic (like water) and the properties of plastic is hydrophobic (anti-water). To make a plastic-wood composite, both components cannot form strong bond. Therefore, coupling agents is added as a interface region and strongly hold these two component together.

iwk306 - Fiber and Lignocellulosic Composite
lecturer: Dr Tay