It was assumed that the hydrocarbon chains produced by the silane
application influenced the wettability of the fibers, thus
improving the chemical affinity of the polymer matrix.
Thus, this factor is accountable to be responsible for an
improvement in the mechanical properties of the
composites under study when the fibers were being silane
treated. The maximum increase in tensile (modulus and
strength) and flexural (modulus and strength) properties of
alkali treated fiber composites (presented in parentheses)
over the matrix were established to be as follows: tensile
(24.6 and 39.6%) and flexural (23.4 and 28.0%).