9. Morphology
Figs. 8 and 9, show the SEM photomicrographs of the impact
fractured surface of hybrid composite Fig. 8a and b are low and
high magnification micrographs, respectively showing the uniform
distribution of talc particles in PHBV matrix. From the SEM images
it was observed that the bulk of failure occurred due the fiber pull
out from the matrix. The interfacial interactions between the wood
fiber and matrix were not strong enough to resist the fiber pull out
during impact as a result the energy consumed was small in
magnitude. A poor interface between the wood fiber and matrix
is visible in Fig. 8b at larger magnification. A poor interface between wood fiber and PHBV was due to the existence of talc particles
within the two surfaces that did not allow much of the interaction
among the two and made the fiber slippage easy during the
pull out. This is visible in the image, in Fig. 9a, that was obtained
from the pulled out fiber of the interface. Fig. 9b is a high magnification
image to reveal the talc and PHBV interface. It shows a well
distributed dispersion and embedment of talc in PHBV matrix suggesting
a good interface between the two.