Abstract
The use of natural fibers in reinforced composites to produce eco-friendly materials is gaining more attention due to their attractive features such as low cost, low density and good mechanical properties, among others. This work thus investigates the potential of waste abaca (Manila hemp) fiber as reinforcing agent in an inorganic aluminosilicate material known as geopolymer. In this study, the waste fibers were subjected to different chemical treatments to modify the surface characteristics and to improve the adhesion with the fly ash-based geopolymer matrix. Definitive screening design of experiment was used to investigate the effect of successive chemical treatment of the fiber on its tensile strength considering the following factors: (1) NaOH pretreatment; (2) soaking time in aluminum salt solution; and (3) final pH of the slurry. The results show that the abaca fiber without alkali pretreatment, soaked for 12 h in Al2(SO4)3 solution and adjusted to pH 6 exhibited the highest tensile strength among the treated fibers. Test results confirmed that the chemical treatment removes the lignin, pectin and hemicellulose, as well as makes the surface rougher with the deposition of aluminum compounds. This improves the interfacial bonding between geopolymer matrix and the abaca fiber, while the geopolymer protects the treated fiber from thermal degradation.
Highlights
The growing concerns for the environment and sustainability have served as a strong drive for researches on developing eco-friendly composite materials [1]
Table measured tensile strength of 10 treated wastewaste abacaabaca fibers fibers using using the treatment combinations according to the designed experiment from the treatment combinations according to the designed experiment from Definitive Screening Design (DSD)
We focus on the microstructure characterization of the abaca-fiber reinforced geopolymer composites through SEM and thermogravimetric analysis
Summary
The growing concerns for the environment and sustainability have served as a strong drive for researches on developing eco-friendly composite materials [1]. In fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) materials, such matrix is reinforced by fibers for their superior properties and load transfer characteristics. Natural fibers such as cotton, flax, jute, sisal and hemp are becoming more attractive than synthetic fibers because of their natural abundance, low cost, low density, good mechanical properties, nontoxicity, etc. In 2015, the annual abaca fiber production was 70,400 metric tons supplying around 87% of world requirements [10] These fibers are extracted from a native banana species and are harvested mostly for their use in making ropes, in textile, and more recently, Materials 2017, 10, 579; doi:10.3390/ma10060579 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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