Effect of Alkali-Treatment on Physico-Chemical Properties of Typha Angustata Stem Fiber and Its Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recognizing the importance of using plant fibers in polymeric composites and the no availability of data on fine structure, physico-chemical, morphological and others properties of Typha Angustata stem fibers, a study was undertaken with the objective of determining some of these properties. In this work, untreated and treated Typha stem fibers by NaOH treatment have been extracted and characterized to evaluate and compare their surface condition as well as their chemical composition, their fine structure and their mechanical properties. Typha stem treated fibers (TSTFs) have presented best results with an alpha-cellulose content of 51.3%, a density of 1460 kg/m3, an average tensile strength equal to 9.42cN/tex and a diameter of 208.12 µm. Also, Crystallinity Index (CI) of TSTFs was 57.4%. Unsaturated polyester matrix was reinforced with TSTFs and mechanical properties were undergone. Results show that TSTFs could be used for sustainable fiber-reinforced polymer composites with an enhancement in flexural and tensile tests for 12.6% TSTFs ratio.