Surface modification acetylation treatment

It was reported that the efiect of surface modification of flax on the ILSS of two-directional flax fabric/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites [121]. The ILSS values of the surface-treated flax fabric/PHBV biocomposites were greater than that of with untreated fabric. The plasma-treated specimen exhibited ILSS values greater than those for the acetylated one in comparison with the untreated specimens. The explanation for this was that aliphatic moieties with greater hydrophobicity may be formed on the fiber surfaces by ethylene plasma. It was noted that both acetylation and plasma treatment played an important role in improving the interfacial properties of flax/PHBV biocomposites, suggesting that the ethylene plasma treatment was more efiective. 

To improve the adhesion between natural fiber and polymer matrix, chemical modification of natural fibers was investigated by a number of researchers. The mechanism and utilization of selected chemical treatments is discussed in this section. There are many different methods to improve the interfacial adhesion between fiber and matrix by modifying fiber surface such as acetylation, benzoyla-tion, acrylation, permanganate, and isocyanate treatment. These treatments are described in detail by Kalia et al. [69]. 

---