Surface modification of calcium alginate fibers with silane and methyl methacrylate monomers

Calcium alginate fiber, which is a natural fiber, was prepared by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4 wt%) into an aqueous calcium chloride (2 wt%) bath. Polypropylene matrix calcium alginate fiber-reinforced unidirectional composites were fabricated by compression molding. In order to reduce the strong hydrophilic nature of the fiber and also to improve the mechanical properties of the composites, calcium alginate fibers were treated with five different formulations of vinyl triethoxy silane (1—5 wt%) and methyl methacrylate (10—50 wt%) along with methanol and photoinitiator and then cured under UV radiation.