Characterization of Short Glass Fiber–Reinforced Castor Oil–Based Polyurethane Polystyrene Interpenetrating Networks

Chopped strand glass fiber–reinforced particle-filled castor oil–based polyurethane polystyrene composites with varying weight fractions of glass fibers were investigated for morphology, tensile strength, and absorption of various chemicals. The short glass fiber fraction was varied from 1% to 16% (by wt.) of the total composite system. The tensile strength of these composites was much higher than that of unfilled IPNs for the same concentration of polystyrene. The tensile strength of the IPN composites increases with the increase in fiber content up to a fiber percentage of 9%. After that, there is a sharp decline in tensile modulus as well as elongation at break. The chemical absorption showed an increase with increasing glass fiber content.