Structure and mechanical behavior of lignosulfonate-treated piassava (Attalea funifera) fibers

Abstract

The use of natural lignocellulosic fiber (NLF) biocomposites for the construction industry has been growing over the years, due to technical and environmental advantages. However, fiber-matrix incompatibility remains a major challenge. Various surface treatments have been investigated to improve fiber-matrix bonding, including sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), a potentially effective and environmentally friendly chemical. In this study, SLS treatment protocols were applied to piassava fibers to evaluate their influence on the fibers. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG/DTG), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/EDS), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), moisture absorption measurements and tensile tests were performed to characterize the modifications. Results demonstrated, for the first time, the efficiency of SLS to remove extractives from the piassava surface. In general, partial degradation of the cellulosic structure was observed, noticeable by the slight drop in crystallinity index (from 42.80 to 39.82%), and an increase in the TG residual mass (from 21.35 to 31.90%), along with changes in DTG curves. However, a particular SLS treatment using ultrasonic bath was able to fully clean the surface preserving the cellulosic structure, and increasing the strength of fibers (from 386 ± 140 MPa to 524 ± 126 MPa).