Thermal and Tensile Mechanical Behavior of Polystyrene Graft Acetic Anhydride-Treated Pulque Fibers

In the present study, pulque (Agave cantala) fibers treated with acetic anhydride were grafted with styrene monomer by free radical graft copolymerization techniques. The grafted fibers were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile mechanical tests. Untreated raw pulque fibers were also taken as control for comparison. FTIR analysis confirmed the grafting of styrene monomer onto pulque fibers. It was also found that polystyrene graft acetic anhydride-treated pulque fibers displayed higher thermal resistance, improved tensile properties, and lower moisture content as compared to untreated raw pulque fibers.