Comparison of Interaction of Aromatic Solvents in Hybrid and Textile Biocomposites

Natural rubber was reinforced with sisal—oil palm hybrid fibers. Composites were prepared by varying the weight content of the fibers and chemical modification of the biofibers. The interaction of three different types of aromatic solvents, namely, benzene, toluene, and xylene with the rubber composites was analyzed. Textile composites were also prepared by sandwiching a single sheet of sisal fabric between two pre-weighed rubber sheets. The diffusion behavior of the textile composites in benzene, toluene, and xylene was also analyzed. The mechanics of diffusion was found to be different for hybrid and textile biocomposites. The swelling index factor was also calculated for all the composites. Swelling was found to be predominantly dependent on the aromatic solvent used and chemical treatments. Chemically modified composites were found to be less prone to solvent permeation.