Strength Properties of Surface-Modified Giant Cavendish (Musa acuminata) Banana Fibers

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study focused on examining and comparing the strength properties of untreated and surface-modified Giant Cavendish banana fibers. The banana fibers were mercerized using 0.06 M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and treated using 0.003 M Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) solutions. The untreated and surface-modified fibers were then subjected to a tensile test and the results analyzed using the Weibull Cumulative Distribution Function. KMnO4 treated banana fibers had a mean tensile strength of 209.321 ± 22.619 MNm−2, which translated to a 65.92% gain in strength while the mercerized banana fibers had a mean tensile strength of 162.233 ± 7.976 MNm−2, which was a 28.60% gain in strength. Mercerized banana fibers recorded a Weibull modulus of 7.6096 compared to the untreated fibers (4.7042) and KMnO4 treated fibers (3.2135). The banana fiber surface-modification using KMnO4 resulted in stronger fibers. However, the lower Weibull modulus of 3.2135 can be attributed to the introduction of flaws in to the fiber structure by the KMnO4 treatment.