Palm leaf sheath fiber extraction and surface modification

Lami Amanuel

doi:10.1177/1558925020950724

Abstract

The influence of softening on tensile strength, elongation at break, moisture regain and microscopic morphology of Palm Sheath fiber extracted by chemical degumming using 80% sodium hydroxide; bleached by hydrogen peroxide and softened by silicone emulsion softener was studied. The softened and unsoftened fibers were characterized for their longitudinal view, tensile strength and elongation at break of single fiber by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The single fiber tensile strength and elongation at break were 19.6% and 10.22% respectively. The calculated value of moisture regain and moisture content of the softened fibers was 12.65% and 11.23% respectively. The tensile strength, elongation at break, moisture management of the softened palm sheath fiber was significantly higher. As a result of surface modification microscopic morphology, the treated fiber was also found different. The study result had drawn the significant influence of the surface modification on the forth mentioned properties of the extracted palm leaf sheath fiber.

Highlights

There is a growing interest in biodegradability of materials due to the promulgation of more restrictive regulations concerning the utilization of petroleum-based nonrenewable resources and the recovery of wastes
The cellulosic plant fibers are extracted from different parts of plants, that is, baste fibers which is extracted from stems of jute, kenaf, ramie, hemp, flax and so on, seed fibers which is obtained from cotton, coir, and kapok, leaf fibers such as sisal, pineapple, and abaca, grass and reed fibers obtained from rice, corn, and wheat, and core fibers such as hemp, kenaf, and jute
The longitudinal study of the fiber under a scanning electron microscope revealed that the softening of the bleached fiber changed the longitudinal view of palm leaf sheath fiber from rectangular to a cylindrical shape

Summary

Introduction

There is a growing interest in biodegradability of materials due to the promulgation of more restrictive regulations concerning the utilization of petroleum-based nonrenewable resources and the recovery of wastes. On the other hand; in countries where the agricultural lead economy is practiced a huge amount of wastes is generated from the agricultural sector. While such an alternative agricultural biomasses are returning to nature unused there is a declining supply of raw material. The Utilization of Natural fibers and its advantages as reinforcements in polymer composites are reported.[2,3,4,5] The cellulosic plant fibers are extracted from different parts of plants, that is, baste fibers which is extracted from stems of jute, kenaf, ramie, hemp, flax and so on, seed fibers which is obtained from cotton, coir, and kapok, leaf fibers such as sisal, pineapple, and abaca, grass and reed fibers obtained from rice, corn, and wheat, and core fibers such as hemp, kenaf, and jute. Kenaf, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo were used as matrix in composite to investigate the influence of natural fibers on mechanical properties of composite materials.[7,8,9] The

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Discussion

Conclusion