Tribology International 131 (2019) 398–405

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Tribology International
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/triboint

Influence of silane treatment on the mechanical, tribological and T

morphological properties of corn stalk fiber reinforced polymer composites
Yucheng Liua,b, Jun Xiec, Na Wud, Lidong Wanga, Yunhai Maa,∗, Jin Tonga
a
Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, PR China), Jilin University (Nanling Campus), Changchun, 130022, PR China
b
Editorial Department of Journal of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University (Nanling Campus), Changchun, 130022, PR China
c
Air Combat Service Academy, Air Force Aviation University, Changchun, 130021, PR China
d
Collage of Automotive Engineering, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250023, PR China

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: In the present work, influence of silane solution concentration on mechanical, tribological and morphological
Surface treatment properties of Corn Stalk Fiber (CSF) reinforced polymer composites was investigated. Experimental results
Silane treatment showed that the silane-treated CSF reinforced polymer composite (CMS) exhibited a promising property of low
Natural fiber density. Silane solution treatments of the CSF could effectively reduce the water absorption and apparent por-
Corn stalk
osity of the polymer composite system. The silane-treated CSF could not effectively improve the friction per-
Polymer composite
Wear resistance
formance, but could significantly improve the wear rate of the polymer composites. Especially, the sum wear rate
of 5% silane-treated CSF reinforced composite (5% CMS) decreased by 22.8% from 4.792 × 10−7 cm3(N⋅m)−1
to 3.699 × 10−7 cm3(N⋅m)−1 compared with that of the raw CSF reinforced composite (CMU), showing the best
wear resistant behavior. Worn surfaces were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy and the results revealed
that the silane-treated CSF was conducive to the formation of secondary plateaus on the polymer composite
surface, which could obviously improve the tribological and morphological properties.

1. Introduction
Wood-polymer composites, consisting of natural fibers embedded in
a material matrix, are a kind of natural fiber reinforced bio-polymer
composite materials. Compared with the synthetic reinforcement ma-
terials [1,2], such as glass and carbon fibers, applied in polymer com-
posites, natural fibers possess the advantages of environmental pro-
tection and low cost and are abundant and nontoxic to soil ecology,
people and animals [3]. In fact, natural fibers endow polymer compo-
sites of lightweight, biodegradability, and low cost [4], which en-
courage researchers to use natural fibers as reinforcement materials in
polymer composites, and make natural fiber reinforced polymer com-
posites be suitably applied in automotive and aircraft industries. Nat-
ural fibers mainly include plant fiber, animal fiber and mineral fiber
[1,5]. In fact, plant fibers, which are a kind of biomass resources, have
become the important reinforcement materials to reinforce polymer
composite matrices, and they are mainly sourced from different kinds of
crops, bast, leaf, seed, wood and grass [6]. Among above plant fibers,
corn stalk fiber is extremely abundant, its output is about 1.0 billion
tons every year around the world, and about 0.25 billion tons are
produced in China [7]. However, more than 30% of the corn stalks are
burned down in most provinces of China, which releases and produces a
large quantity of harmful air and tiny particles, and then leads to the
pollution of environment, water and air and the harm of human health
[8]. The pollution and harm caused from corn stalks burning have be-
come a global issue that needs to be addressed. Moreover, subsidiary
agricultural products like corn stalk fiber are in conformity with the
requirements of sustainable development to replace other natural fibers
(such as abaca, cotton, flax, wool, etc.) [9]. However, according to the
published papers and patents, less progress has been conducted on the
researches of the corn stalk fiber reinforced polymer composites.
The compatibility of the natural fibers and composite matrix di-
rectly impacts on the fiber-matrix interface bonding strength. In fact,
weak fiber-matrix interface bonding strength does not contribute to
efficient transmission of stress from the composite matrix to the natural
fibers, which leads to weaker polymer composites with poor mechan-
ical properties and low life span [10]. In the last decade, a number of
researchers studied on the influence of surface treatments of natural
fibers on the interface bonding strength, physical, mechanical, tribo-
logical and morphological properties of the composite materials. Du
et al. [11] investigated the impact of wood fiber treated by coupling
agent (KH-550) on the tensile and worn characteristics of the

∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: myh@jlu.edu.cn (Y. Ma).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2018.11.004
Received 1 September 2018; Received in revised form 28 October 2018; Accepted 6 November 2018
Available online 09 November 2018
0301-679X/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Y. Liu et al. Tribology International 131 (2019) 398–405

thermoplastic polyimide composites. This work revealed that silane

treated wood fiber had the excellent interfacial bonding with the
composite matrix, and silane treatment could also effectively boost the
tensile and worn properties of the composites. Valášek et al. [12] pre-
pared the alkali solution treated white/brown coir reinforced epoxy
composites and investigated the influence of surface treatment on me- Fig. 1. Chemical construction of aminopropyltriethoxysilane.
chanical properties and abrasive wear of the composites. The study
concluded that the chemical treatment of the coir fiber could improve cleaned by distilled water, and then the collected stalks were processed
the interaction with the epoxy resin matrix and increase the tensile using a skin separator, leaving behind only the stalk skins, and further
strength of the brown fiber reinforced composite. Moreover, the com- the stalk skins were crashed to pieces using a multi-function grinder.
posite containing treated brown coconut fibres had the best wear re- Finally, the broken matters were separated using a mesh screen and the
sistance, greater porosity and hardness. Jasbi et al. [13] improved the corn stalk fibers (CSF) with length of 1 mm–3 mm were obtained.
interaction of the milkweed fibers and matrix phase, and enhanced the
mechanical properties of the milkweed fibers reinforced green compo-
2.2.2. Surface treatment of corn stalk fibers
sites by sodium hydroxide solution treatment. Shalwan and Yousif [14]
In an effort to improve the compatibility and interface bonding
aimed at modifying the surface of the date palm fibre used sodium
performance between the natural fiber and composite matrix, the nat-
hydroxide and then improving the mechanical and wear characteristics
ural fiber should be processed with surface treatment prior to be used.
of the date palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites. Mayandi et al. [15]
The concentration of the treatment solution is one of the major factors
identified that NaOH, calcium hydroxide powder and silane treated
to affect the properties of the natural fiber. In the present study, silane
veldt grape fibers had an excellent thermal stability and a significant
solutions with various concentrations are carried on the surface treat-
impact on mechanical properties of the composites.
ment of corn stalk fibers.
Although a lot of published works is devoted to the investigation of
The CSF were immersed in the solutions with various concentrations
the composites, few studies have been carried out on surface treatment
of 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 9 wt%, and 13 wt% of silane coupling agent in abso-
of corn stalk fiber and the influence of silane treatment on mechanical,
lute ethyl alcohol and water. Quantitative silane coupling agents were
tribological and morphological properties of the corn stalk fiber re-
pre-hydrolysed in an 80 vol%/20 vol% solution of absolute ethyl al-
inforced bio-polymer composites, and which needs to take more into
cohol/water) for 60 min, and then the CSF were treated by the prepared
research. Reviewing the studies carried out by the researchers, silane
solutions for 60 min followed by washing repeatedly with distilled
treatment is one of the effective surface treatment methods and can
water until the pH equal to 7, the chemical reaction between silane and
improve the processing performances of the natural fibers, and it is
CSF is presented in Fig. 2. Finally, the silane-treated CSF was oven-dried
particularly useful to enhance fiber-matrix interface bonding strength,
in a heat-treatment tank at 90 °C for 24 h.
mechanical and tribological properties [16,17]. Hence, in the present
study, natural fibers were extracted from stalk of corn (Zea mays L.) and
2.2.3. Polymer composite samples
were treated by silane solution with different concentration (including
The matrix materials were dried in a heat-treatment tank at 80 °C
1 wt%, 5 wt%, 9 wt% and 13 wt%), and then were applied to fabricate
for 24 h and then were applied to prepare the polymer composite. The
the polymer composites in a hot-press mould. Polymer composites re-
matrix materials together with CSF (6 wt%) were fully mixed in a blade-
inforced by raw corn stalk fiber were also fabricated using the same
paddle mixer at room temperature for 5 min. The well-mixed raw ma-
process. The effect of silane solution concentration on mechanical, tri-
terials were hot-pressed by a thermocompressor at 60 °C and 40 Mpa for
bological and morphological properties of the obtained polymer com-
30 min, and then the hot-pressed polymer composite were heat-treated
posites was investigated. In addition, worn mechanism of the polymer
in a heat-treatment oven, followed by cutting into several composite
composites was also discussed. The obtained results can guide the uti-
samples with certain dimensions. The natural fiber reinforced polymer
lization of agricultural wastes such as corn stalk and the development of
composite designations are material containing untreated CSF (CMU),
a new or improved technology for the fabrication of the polymer
material containing 1% silane treated CSF (1% CMS), material con-
composites.
taining 5% silane treated CSF (5% CMS), material containing 9% silane
treated CSF (9% CMS) and material containing 13% silane treated CSF
2. Experimental materials and methods
(13% CMS), respectively.
2.1. Materials
2.3. Density test
The raw materials mainly consist of corn stalk fiber, glass fiber,
abaca fiber, nitrile butadiene rubber modified phenolic resin, graphite, Density of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS and 13% CMS was
purple sands, water slag, vermiculite, barium sulfate, rice hull powder, carried out on the MP-5002 type electronic scales using Archimedes
tyre powder, shale, aluminium oxide, antimony sulfide and frictional method at room temperature, and was calculated by using the following
powder. Among the above raw materials, corn stalk fiber, abaca fiber equation:
and rice hull powder belong to natural raw materials; water slag and ρ = m2 /(m2 − m1), (1)
tyre powder are industrial waste material. Corn plant was obtained in
October 2017 from the local farm at Changchun, in Jilin province, where m1 is the dry weight of the polymer composites at a completely
China. Silane coupling agents (KH-550, aminopropyltriethoxysilane) desiccated state; m2 is the soaked weight of the composites that soaked
were purchased from Jinan jinhui chemical industry Co., Ltd., China, its in distilled water.
chemical construction was presented in Fig. 1. Absolute ethyl alcohol,
which was of analytical grade, was provided by Beijing Chemicals, 2.4. Water absorption test
China.
In this study, water absorption of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS
2.2. Sample preparation and 13% CMS was determined using the Chinese National Standards
GB/T24508-2009 [18] at room temperature of approximately 25 °C.
2.2.1. Extraction of corn stalk fibers The prepared composite samples were dried in oven at 90 °C until the
Corn stalks were separated from corn plant, exposed to sunshine and samples mass remained constant, followed by submerging in distilled

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Fig. 2. Mechanism of interaction between aminopropyltriethoxysilane and cellulosic fibers.

water for 3 days. Prior to immersion in distilled water, the sample mass
was measured as M0. After immersion, the water was absorbed from the
surface of samples using a tissue paper and then the sample mass was
immediately measured as M1. The changes in the mass of the samples
could be used to evaluate the water absorption, which could be cal-
culated as followed equation [19]:
M = (M1 − M0)/ M0 × 100%, (2)

2.5. Apparent porosity test

Apparent porosity of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS and 13%

CMS was determined by using a boiling method according to the Fig. 3. Schematic diagram of friction-wear tester mode.
Chinese National Standards GB/T1966–1996 [20]. The composite
samples were dried in oven at 90 °C until the mass remained constant,
face area of the composite sample (A = 625 mm2); d1 and d2 are the
and were weighted as initial weigh (G1), and then the samples were
mean thickness of the composite samples before and after the experi-
immersed in the boiling distilled water and kept for 120 min. Finally,
ment (cm), respectively.
the samples were measured in air as saturation weight (G2), and in
water as immersion weight (G3), respectively. The apparent porosity
values were calculated using the following equation:
2.6.2. Fade and recovery properties
q = (G2 − G1)/(G2 − G3) × 100%, (3) After the friction-wear tests, the friction coefficient of all the com-
posite samples were sorted and analyzed, and then their fade ratio (F)
and recovery ratio (R) were calculated by using the following formulas
2.6. Tribological properties test
[23], respectively.
2.6.1. Friction-wear properties
F = (μ F100°C − μ F350°C )/ μ F100°C × 100%, (6)
The friction and wear properties of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9%
CMS and 13% CMS were investigated by using a JF150D-II typed spe-
cial friction and wear tester in accordance with the Chinese National R = μ R100°C / μ F100°C × 100%, (7)
Standards GB5763-2008. Detailed experimental procedures have re-
ported in our published papers [21,22]. The schematic of the friction- where μ F100°C and μ F350°C are the friction coefficient of the composite
wear tester mode is presented in Fig. 3. The polymer composite samples samples at the temperatures of 100 °C and 350 °C during the fade test,
preparing for the tests had the dimensions of 25 mm × 25 mm × 6 mm. respectively; μ R100°C is the friction coefficient of the composite samples
All the tests main consist of two steps: fade test and recovery test. The at the temperature of 100 °C during the recovery test.
friction coefficient (μ) and wear rate (ΔV) were evaluated by using the
following two formulas, respectively.
f 2.7. Worn surface characterization
μ = ,
P (4)
Worn surface morphologies of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS
1 A d1 − d2 and 13% CMS were observed by using a TESCAN VEGA3 model
ΔV = ,
2πr R f (5) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an Energy Dispersive X-Ray
Spectroscopy (EDX) at 20 kV. The tested composite samples were
where f is the average slip frictional force during the course of friction
sputter coated with gold dust by SBC-12 model carbon coater to im-
(N); P is the working pressure (N); r is the horizontal length between the
prove the conductivity of sample surfaces.
center of rotation and the center of composite sample (r = 150 mm); R
is the revolutions of the friction-wear tester (R = 5000); A is the end

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Fig. 4. The density of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS and 13% CMS.
Fig. 5. Water absorption behavior of the raw and untreated CSF reinforced
polymer composites.
3. Results and discussion

3.1. Density analysis

The density of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS and 13% CMS is

measured and the test results is presented in Fig. 4. It is found that with
increasing of the silane solution concentration, the density of the
polymer composite increased slightly. It can be attributed to the factor
that with increase in silane solution concentration, noncellulosic com-
pounds removed from the surface of the CSF and then resulting in in-
creasing of the density of the treated CSF [24], which ultimately re-
sulted in the increase of the polymer composite density. Moreover,
according to the results, the CSF reinforced polymer composites ex-
hibited a promising property of low density and their densities were not
much more than 2 g/cm3, which have a lower density than the friction
composite (2.27 g/cm3) in Ref. [25]. In fact, natural fibers had a great
potential to achieve 10%–30% weight reduction of the natural fibers
composites [26]. Nishino et al. [27] also have reported that kenaf fibers
as reinforced material in thermosets and thermoplastic composites
could be effectively reduced the composite density.

3.2. Water absorption analysis
The water absorption of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS and 13%
CMS is measured and the variations are presented in Fig. 5. As shown in
Fig. 5, water absorption of the polymer composites decreased and then
increased with increasing of the silane solution concentration. The
composites containing treated CSF showed lower water absorption than
the raw CSF reinforced polymer composite. The decrement of water
absorption follows the order: CMU > 1% CMS > 13% CMS > 9%
CMS > 5% CMS. It is evident that silane solution treatments of the CSF
could reduce the water absorption of the polymer composite system. In
fact, chemical treatments could eliminate the hydroxyl group in the
natural fiber surface and increase the crystalline degree of the CSF [28],
and thus decreasing the water absorption of the polymer composites
[29]. The results in present are in accordance with the published re-
search of Vilay et al. on the study of the bagasse fiber reinforced
composites [30].
3.3. Apparent porosity analysis
The apparent porosity values of the CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9%
CMS and 13% CMS have been obtained and are shown in Fig. 6. From
the results of the apparent porosity, as shown in Fig. 6, it can be seen
Fig. 6. Apparent porosity values of the raw and untreated CSF reinforced
polymer composites.
that the surface treatments of the CSF had significantly influenced the
apparent porosity values of the polymer composites. Apparent porosity
values of the polymer composite increased firstly and then decreased
with increasing in the silane solution concentration. The apparent
porosity is nearly proportional to the water absorption of the polymer
composites. Sample CMU, which received the highest water absorption,
had the highest porosity, and sample 9% CMS which received the re-
latively lower water absorption had the lowest porosity. It can be at-
tributed to the reason that the rough surface of treated CSF formed a
mechanical interlocking with the composite matrix, which was mostly
responsible for the improved interface bonding [31]. Since more matrix
materials was attracted to the rough CSF surface, the combination of
the matrix materials and CSF was dense, which could exhibit lower
apparent porosity. Tonoli et al. [32] also reported the lower apparent
porosity of the composites with silane (Methacryloxypropyltri-meth-
oxysilane and Aminopropyltri-ethoxysilane) treated cellulose pulp fi-
bers.

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Fig. 7. Friction coefficient of the polymer composites in fade test (a) and recovery test (b).

3.4. Tribological properties analysis

3.4.1. Friction coefficient

Friction coefficient was examined to investigate the influence of the
silane solution concentration on the polymer composites. Fig. 7 pre-
sents the fluctuation of the friction coefficient during the fade test and
recovery test. In Fig. 7a, the friction coefficient rapidly increased and
then decreased gradually with increasing in the test temperature, in-
dicating that the wear surface of the polymer composites was already
well burnished at the test temperatures of 150 °C - 250 °C. When the
temperature exceeded 250 °C, the friction coefficients of all the com-
posite samples fluctuated greatly and decreased rapidly. The fluctuation
and decrease in friction property was ascribed to decomposition of the
organic components, such as phenolic resins, CSF and rice hull powder
at high test temperature. It is consistent with the research results of Ref.
[21]. Interestingly, the friction coefficient of sample CMU tended to be
stable at the high temperature of 300 °C - 350 °C, it is because that
serious wear damage (Fig. 9) counteracted the impact of organic matter
decomposition on its friction coefficient. Overall, the friction coeffi-
cients of all the composite samples in the present study met with re-
quired standards and Chinese National Standards GB 5763-2008. Fig. 8. The fade and recovery properties of the polymer composites.
Fig. 7b presents that the friction coefficient of the polymer com-
posites increased at the temperatures of 300 °C - 200 °C, and then de- 3.4.3. Wear rate
creased from 200 °C to 100 °C during the recovery test. At high test Wear resistance affects the service life period of the polymer com-
temperature, the increasing of friction coefficient was mainly due to the posites and main relies on the component type and manufacturing
production of wear debris on the worn surface. Softening and decom- process. Among them, reinforcement of fibrous ingredient and its in-
position of the composite matrix could produce a large number of wear terfacial strength with the matrix are critical to the wear resistance of
debris, which acted as a third body and scratched the disc and matrix. the polymer composites [33]. Fig. 9 shows the impact of silane-treated
However, the general reason for the decreasing of friction coefficient is CSF on the wear rate of the polymer composites. As presented in Fig. 9a,
the change of fluidity between the worn surface and above wear debris the wear rate of the composites was significantly affected by the ro-
when the test temperatures reduced from 250 °C to 100 °C. It must be tating disc temperature and increased with increase of the test tem-
pointed out that the fluctuations in the friction coefficients had been perature. Similar trend was reported by Ji et al. [34]. What is inter-
kept in an optimum range, which would be conducive to stability of esting is that the wear rate of all the polymer composites was similar at
working parts such as friction materials during the actual operation. the temperatures of 100 °C - 200 °C, while the wear rate of sample CMU
increased rapidly, and that of 5% CMS and 9% CMS was relatively
3.4.2. Fade and recovery properties analysis lower at high temperatures. This may be ascribed to the addition of the
Fade and recovery properties are two main parameters to char- silane-treated CSF. As presented in Fig. 9b, the sum wear rate of 5%
acterize the changes of the friction coefficient and repeatable friction CMS was the lowest and its sum wear rate reduced by 22.81% in
performance, which should be further evaluated. The obtained results comparison with that of sample CMU. Moreover, the sum wear rate of
are illustrated in Fig. 8. The fade ratio follows the order: 9%CMS > 1% CMS, 9% CMS and 13% CMS increased by 9.10%, 2.32% and 5.82%
5%CMS > 1%CMS > 13%CMS > CMU. However, the order of re- compared with that of 5% CMS, respectively, which may be due to the
covery ratio was as follows: 9%CMS > 13%CMS > CMU > 5% appropriate silane concentration. The obtained results indicated that
CMS > 1%CMS. It was found that sample CMU had some improvement the polymer composite reinforced with 5% silane-treated CSF showed a
in fade and recovery properties over other samples. Thus it is suggested marked improvement of the wear resistance.
that the silane-treated CSF could not improve the friction performance,
but it did not have made a significant reduction in the friction perfor-
mance during the fade and recovery tests.

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Fig. 9. Wear rates of the polymer composites. (a) Wear rate; (b) sum wear rate.
3.5. Worn surface analysis
Worn mechanism can be well explained by examining the worn
surface morphology including wear debris, micro-cracks, adhesive pit
and plateaus [35,36]. In the present study, the worn surfaces of the
polymer composites were characterized using SEM observation to un-
derstand the influence of the saline-treated CSF on its wear mechanism.
The typical worn morphologies of CMU, 1% CMS, 5% CMS, 9% CMS
and 13% CMS are presented in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively.
As can be observed from Fig. 10, a large amount of wear debris,
larger adhesive pit, fiber-shedding pit and micro-cracks were observed
on worn surface of CMU, and loose interface of the CSF and matrix
could be also found apparently, showing worse and rough worn surface,
and poor interfacial bonding of the untreated-CSF and composite ma-
trix. In fact, raw corn stalk fibers were not conducive to improving the
interface bonding of the natural fiber and matrix [37], which resulted in
Fig. 10. Typical worn micrographs of sample CMU. (a) Overall micrograph; (b) fiber-shedding pit; (c) adhesive pit; (d) EDX analysis.
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Tribology International 131 (2019) 398–405
loose matrix. Then a great deal of wear debris produced on the worn
surface, and glass fiber and corn stalk fiber were pulled out from the
worn surface under the action of friction force and heat (Fig. 10b). The
hard asperities such as glass fiber and hard wear debris, acting as the
third body, scratched the worn surface, which indicated the abrasive
wear behaviors. As shown in Fig. 10a and b, micro-cracks also could be
clearly observed. The unstable force and temperature field on the worn
surface are the main reasons that micro-cracks were formed, showing
typical fatigue wear characteristics. Meanwhile, uneven and rough
worn surfaces were easy to form cold soldering joints between the
matrix surface and rotating disc, which could promote the formation of
larger adhesive pit on the worn surface under the action of friction
force. The above hard asperities then made the adhesive pit to further
enlarge and deepen (Fig. 10c), which was the primary reason of ad-
hesive wear [21]. Moreover, plenty of wear debris presented in the
adhesive pit and they were evaluated by using an EDX spectrum. As can
Y. Liu et al.
Fig. 11. Typical worn micrographs of the polymer composite samples. (a) 1% CMS; (b) 5% CMS; (c) 9% CMS; (d) 13% CMS.
Table 1
Element content of the wear debris of sample CMU.
Element C O Mg Al
Weight (%) 20.87 37.68 0.71 2.03
be observed from Fig. 10d and Table 1, besides a lot of C, O, Fe, a
considerable number of Si, Mg, Al, S, Cl, Ca, Sb and K were presented.
The elements detected from wear debris were primarily come from the
rotating disc and polymer composites. According to the analysis of the
above results, the main wear types of sample CMU are abrasive wear,
adhesive wear and fatigue wear.
Fig. 11a–d shows the typical worn micrographs of the saline-treated
reinforced polymer composites, corresponding to samples 1% CMS, 5%
CMS, 9% CMS and 13% CMS, respectively. As can be seen from Fig. 11
that the worn surface was relatively smooth in comparison to that of
sample CMU (Fig. 10). It can be ascribed to the improved interfacial
bonding and the generated an additional mechanical interlocking [38],
which could promote the interpenetration of the CSF and the matrix. In
fact, a coupling agent used to treated CSF not only could product a
chemical bridge of the natural fiber and the matrix (Fig. 12), but also
could remove the non-cellulose component and then make the surface
become more roughness [39]. In Fig. 11a, wear debris, adhesive pit,
bare CSF, and loose interface of the CSF and matrix are observed on
worn surface of 1% CMS, showing relatively weak interfacial adhesion
Fig. 12. Chemical reactions occurred at natural fiber-matrix in polymer com-
posite systems.
Tribology International 131 (2019) 398–405
Si S Cl K Ca Fe Sb
2.31 0.29 0.19 0.48 1.98 30.49 2.97
between CSF and composite matrix. A large primary plateaus and sec-
ondary plateaus, wear debris and parallel shallow grooves are observed
on the worn surface of 5% CMS and 9% CMS in Fig. 11b and c. Parti-
cularly, it is clearly found that the interface of the fibers (CSF and glass
fiber) and matrix bonds well and the composite matrix is compact on
the smooth worn surface of 5% CMS. In general, the primary plateaus
contained the wear resistant components along with hard particles and
formed nucleating point for secondary contact plateaus, the secondary
contact plateaus originated from the wear debris, compacting on the
surface of the primary plateaus [40,41]. It is common knowledge that
the plateaus are greatly affected by the components of the polymer
composites, thereinto the reinforcement materials play a crucial role in
the forming process of the plateaus [42]. The secondary contact pla-
teaus are beneficial to the wear resistance and the decreasing of the
wear rate of 5% CMS and 9% CMS (Fig. 9). A similar research result has
been concluded by Kim and Jang [43]. In Fig. 11d, a large primary
plateaus, adhesive pit, wear debris and grooves could be found on the
rough worn surface of 13% CMS, which indicates a slightly decreasing
of wear resistance in comparison to samples 5% CMS and 9% CMS.
4. Conclusion
In the present work, the CSF were extracted from the corn stalk and
were treated by silane solution with different concentration, and then
the raw and silane treated CSF reinforced polymer composites were
fabricated in a hot-press mould. The influence of silane solution con-
centration on mechanical, tribological and morphological properties of
the obtained polymer composites was investigated.
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• The density of the CSF reinforced polymer composites increased
slightly with increasing of the silane solution concentration. The
composites exhibited a promising property of low density and the
densities were not much more than 2 g/cm3.
• Silane solution treatments of the CSF could reduce the water uptake
of the polymer composite system. The CMU exhibited the maximum
water absorption of 6.38%, the 5% CMS exhibited the minimum
water absorption of 3.36%.
• The apparent porosity is nearly proportional to the water absorption
of the polymer composites. Sample CMU had the highest porosity
(5.542%), and 9% CMS had the lowest porosity (4.651%).
• Friction coefficient was found to increase from 100 °C to 150 °C, and
subsequently rapidly decreased with increasing the temperature up
to 350 °C. The silane-treated CSF could not improve the friction
performance during the fade test and recovery test, but it did not
have made a significant reduction in its friction performance.
• The CSF treated by silane solution could significantly improve the
wear rate of the polymer composites. Notable, the best wear re-
sistant was obtained in sample 5% CMS (sun wear rate:
3.699 × 10−7 cm3(N⋅m)−1), followed by sample 9% CMS (sun wear
rate: 3.81 × 10−7 cm3(N⋅m)−1).
• The smoother surface using silane-treated CSF is attributed to sec-
ondary plateaus on the worn surface. Raw CSF does not showed the
formation of contact plateaus during friction process and hence a
relatively rough surface.
The above results confirm that the silane-treated CSF could be ef-
fectively applied in bio-polymer composites.
Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the China-EU H2020 FabSurfWAR
project (Grant Nos. 2016YFE0112100 and 644971), by National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51475205 and
51505259), by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No.
2016M601383), by Jilin Province Science and Technology
Development Plan Item (Grant Nos. 20150519022JH and
20170204015NY), by the 111 project (Grant No. B16020), by Jilin
Provincial Development and Reform Commission Project of China
(Grant No. 2018C044-3).
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