Effect of Plasma treated-Aluminum Coating on Plain Woven Fabrics Biodegradable Composites

Abstract

Coating plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of natural fibers to meet environmental, mechanical, and chemical demands. This study explores the effect of aluminum coatings on the thermomechanical behavior of natural fabrics–sisal, jute, and banana. The coatings were applied using a plasma spray gun operating at 30 rpm with a spray distance of 10–13 cm. Both coated and uncoated fabrics were used to prepare biodegradable composites. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) served as the matrix, and the composites were fabricated through compression molding. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) was conducted to measure storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factor across a range of temperatures. The results show notable improvement in the dynamic mechanical properties of coated composites. SEM and EDX analyses were used to study surface morphology and chemical composition. Microscopic images reveal reduced fiber mobility at elevated temperatures and stronger bonding at the fiber–matrix interface in the coated samples. These findings show that plasma-sprayed aluminum coatings enhance the thermal and mechanical stability of natural fiber composites. These coated composites are promising for applications in automotive, construction, and packaging sectors, especially under thermal stress.