Comprehensive investigation of raw and NaOH alkalized sansevieria fiber for enhancing composite reinforcement

Abstract

Sansevieria trifasciata fiber (STF) has a high cellulose content and considerable potential as a polymer composite reinforcement. This study aims to investigate the effect of alkali treatment on the physicochemical properties, tensile strength, thermal properties, and surface characteristics of STF. We explored the chemical changes in STF that had undergone alkali treatment and achieved an optimum increase in cellulose content of 51.8 % by weight. Soaking the STF for 120 minutes significantly changed its chemical composition. XRD analysis results indicated an increase in crystallinity index and fiber size by 75 % and 68 nm, respectively. After surface treatment, the density of STF increased to 1225 kg/m3, while the percentage of total weight decreased. Thermogravimetric testing provided relevant data for mechanical and thermal characteristics, including an increase in tensile strength to 535 MPa, a tensile modulus of 4.23 GPa, and thermal stability up to 371 °C. In addition, modification of the fiber surface by alkalization increased the wettability of the matrix, which in turn improved the ability of the fibers to interact with the resin. Observation of fiber morphology showed a reduction in lignin and hemicellulose content, which in turn improved the properties of the resulting composite. These results indicate that STF with optimized surface modification has the potential to be an excellent reinforcement for polymer composites.