Effects of Alkaline Concentrations on the Tensile Properties of Napier Grass Fibre

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the effects of alkaline treatment on the tensile properties of Napier grass fibres. The effect of different concentrations of NaOH aqueous solutions on the morphology and structure of the fibres were studied. The fibres were treated with 5%, 10%, and 15% of Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration for 24 hours of soaking time. The single fibre tests were then performed in accordance with ASTM D3822-07 standard. The morphology of the fibres before and after alkali treatment was observed with a Metallurgical Microscope MT8100. The results show that the physical properties were varied after the treatments and 10% concentration of NaOH treatment yield the maximum tensile strength and elongation of the fibre at 172 MPa and 5.7% respectively. Morphology observation found that the fibre became thinner, and the surface roughness of the fibres increased with the increment of NaOH concentration.