Abstract:
In this work, Nanoindentation characterization established that the hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) have been affected due to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coating on the parent coir (PC), trans-esterified parent coir (TEPC) and cured trans-esterified parent coir (CTEPC), respectively. FTIR, XRD, and FESEM were used to characterize the samples. The coating of hydrophilic PC with a low concentration of silver (100 mM AgNO3) endorses higher H and E than that of coating with a high concentration of silver (200 mM AgNO3) and PC, respectively. However, coating of hydrophobic TEPC with a higher concentration of silver endorses higher H and E than that of coating with a lower concentration of silver and TEPC, respectively. Improved hydrophobicity and porosity of CTEPC, causes agglomeration due to the inter diffusion of particles during coating and reduces both H and E. The values of H and E of PC (H 251.13 +/- 15.26 MPa, E 2.17 +/- 0.21 GPa) vary from maximum (H 516.77 +/- 18.36 MPa, E 10.04 +/- 1.81 GPa) to minimum (H 160.16 +/- 12.34 MPa, E 0.76109 +/- 0.18616 GPa) for the coated fibers. These AgNP-coated coir fibers could be very important materials for embedded capacitors, MOSFETs, and other electrical applications.