Characteristics and Comparative Study of Sodium Hydroxide Treated Banana Fiber Reinforced Composite Material

Abstract

Environmental issues have become a worldwide crisis because of the high rate of pollution and changing climate patterns. Due to innovations and discoveries, the need for materials is increasing day by day. Here, composite materials can be substituted for any other mono-clinic materials fulfilling the requirements of those particular materials. However, the maximum composite materials are man-made or artificially fabricated fibers. These are not environmentally friendly and bio-degradable, which creates an environmental hazard. So, scientists are trying to fabricate composite materials from eco-friendly and green resources. The main advantages of natural fibers are their low cost, easy availability, and low density. Besides these acceptable specific properties, ease of separation, increasing energy recovery, carbon-oxide neutrality, and recyclable properties are increasing the popularity of natural fiber. In this study, we have used mainly two types of banana fiber for preparing the composite specimens, especially highlighting the hybrid fiber, which is made by mixing those two types of fiber: “Shobri” and “Champa” banana fibers. These names are renowned locally in Bangladesh. In this study, polyester and MEKP are used as matrix and hardener sequentially. We have accomplished a chemical treatment process. The treating process was accomplished in the alkaline medium with two different molar concentrations of NaOH. These are 1% and 5% solutions of NaOH. After the treatment neutralization process was performed with a 1 gm/L acetic acid solution. In addition, two distinct mechanical tests— the bending and tensile tests—were carried out. The results indicated that the hybrid fiber treated with 1% NaOH had the highest tensile properties; its Young’s modulus was around 625 MPa and its tensile strength was approximately 36.42 MPa. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of Champa banana fiber treated with 1% and 5% NaOH solutions were the lowest, respectively. Approximate values are 1.82 GPa and 18.3 MPa. The flexural strength of hybrid fiber treated with 1% and 5% NaOH was the highest and lowest in that order. 69.2 MPa and 56.21 MPa, respectively, are their values. Regarding flexural modulus, Champa fiber treated with 5% and 1% NaOH exhibits the highest and lowest values, measuring roughly 4 and 1.82 GPa, respectively.