Mercerization of Flax Fiber Improves the Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Composites

In this article, modification of mercerized flax (MFx) through graft co-polymerization with methylmethacrylate (MMA) using ferrous ammonium sulphate–potassium per sulphate (FAS–KPS) redox initiator has been reported. Water uptake and moisture absorbance properties of methylmethacrylate grafted mercerized flax (MFx-g-MMA) and mechanical behavior of raw flax, mercerized flax, and MFx-g-MMA fibers reinforced—polystyrene matrix–based composites also have been evaluated. Four reaction parameters, reaction temperature, reaction time, initiator molar ratio, and monomer concentration, have been optimized to get maximum graft yield. Maximum graft yield of 138.35% has been obtained at optimum reaction conditions. The graft co-polymers thus formed were characterized by FTIR, TGA, and SEM techniques. Mercerized flax fiber reinforced showed better results than raw flax and MFx-g-MMA fibers reinforced composites.