Development, Appraisal and Characterization of a Novel Hydrophobic Kapok Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composite

Abstract

Fabricated novel kapok fiber Reinforced polymeric composite can be used for many bio medical applications. The fiber - reinforced polymer composite material made up of a polymer matrix with fiber embedded in it. The matrix material is EVA polymer, while the reinforced material is kapok fiber. Among different categories of composites being made, fiber reinforced composites can be designed by incorporating low-cost natural fibers as reinforcing materials in EVA matrix. Fabricated Kapok fiber reinforced composite by solvent casting method exhibited strong mechanical properties along with stress relaxation property inherited from EVA observed by mechanical testing and contact angle and XRD analysis shows that increased hydrophobicity inherited from Kapok fiber, semi-crystalline nature respectively. morphology, functional groups, degradation rate and non-hemolytic nature. Based on these characteristics, the fabricated composite can be used for biomedical applications.