Betelnut Fibres Research Articles

Effect of Surface Treatment on Betel Nut (Areca catechu) Fiber in Polypropylene Composite

Betel nut fiber (Bn)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 (Bn wt%:PP wt%) using extruding and hot press moulding technique. From the results, it can be inferred that Bn30:PP70 mixture composite (BnPP) showed better performance among the composites prepared. For further improvement, betel nut fiber was subjected to detergent wash as well as alkali treatment for composite preparation. This work investigated the tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites. Fracture morphology of the composite as well as the water absorption capacity has been monitored.

On the effect of different polymer matrix and fibre treatment on single fibre pullout test using betelnut fibres

This study is aimed at exploring the possibility of improving the interfacial adhesion strength of betelnut fibres using different chemical treatments namely 4% and 6% of HCl and NaOH respectively. The fibre specimens were partially embedded into different thermosetting polymer matrix (polyester and epoxy) as reinforcement blocks. Single fibre pullout tests were carried out for both the untreated (Ut) and treated betelnut fibres with different resins and tested under dry conditions. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the material failure morphology. The studies revealed the differences of interfacial adhesion strengths for the various test specimens of betelnut fibres treated with the polyester and epoxy matrix which followed in the order of: N6 ≫ N4 > H4 > Ut > H6. It was proven that fibres treated with 6% of NaOH exhibits excellent interfacial adhesion properties. The interfacial adhesion shear strength of these fibres using polyester and epoxy has improved by 141% and 115% correspondingly compared to untreated fibre under the same treatment.

On the mechanical properties of a treated betelnut fibre-reinforced polyester composite

The present work is an attempt to investigate the mechanical properties of a treated betelnut fibre-reinforced polyester composite. Tensile, flexural, compression, and hardness tests were carried out. As a result of reinforcing the polyester with the treated betelnut fibre mats, the tensile, flexural, compression, and hardness properties of the composite were enhanced by about 141 per cent, 28 per cent, 85 per cent, and 6 per cent when compared to neat polyester. The high roughness of the outer layer of the treated betelnut fibre and the presence of trichomes were the main reasons for the high enhancement of mechanical properties of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed low fibre pullout during the mechanical test. The failure mechanism was dominated by fibre breakage and slight debonding during the tensile tests.

Three-body abrasion on wear and frictional performance of treated betelnut fibre reinforced epoxy (T-BFRE) composite

This work aims to investigate the wear and frictional behaviour of a new epoxy composite based on treated betelnut fibres subjected to three-body abrasion using different abrasive particle sizes (500 μm, 714 μm and 1430 μm) and sliding velocities (0.026–0.115 m s −1) at constant applied load (5 N) using a newly developed Linear Tribo Machine. The worn surfaces of the composite were studied using scanning electron microscope. The work revealed that the predominant wear mechanism of treated betelnut fibre reinforced epoxy (T-BFRE) composite sliding against grain sands was plastic deformation, pitting and pullout of betelnut fibres. The composite exhibited higher values in frictional coefficient when it was subjected against coarse sand. Besides, the abrasive wear of the composite is depending on the size of abrasive particles and sliding velocity. Higher weight loss is noticed at high sliding velocities. The specific wear rate for the composite subjected to three different sand particles follow the order of: coarse > grain > fine sands respectively.

Effect of betelnut fibres treatment and contact conditions on adhesive wear and frictional performance of polyester composites

The current work is an attempt to use treated betelnut fibres (in mat form) as reinforcement in polyester composites. The fibres were obtained from Alor Star in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. Wear and frictional characteristics of T-BFRP composite were investigated against polished stainless steel counterface under dry/wet contact conditions using a BOD machine. The tests were conducted at 2.8 m/s sliding velocity, different applied loads (5–200 N) and sliding distances (0–6.72 km). Different orientation of the fibre mats with respect to the sliding direction of the counterface was considered; anti-parallel (AP), parallel (P) and normal (N). The worn surface morphology was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). An optical microscope was used to observe the wear track surface on the counterface, and the modifications on the counterface roughness were studied. This work revealed that the wear and frictional performance of the composite were enhanced under wet contact conditions by about 54% and 95% compared to the dry. Specific wear rate under wet test for AP-O (2.5 ± 0.01 × 10 −8), and P-O (2.3 ± 0.01 × 10 −8), was low compared to the dry test (AP-O: 5.1 ± 0.01 × 10 −8; P-O: 15 ± 0.5 × 10 −8). The composite exhibited high wear performance in AP-O compared to P-O followed by N-O under both dry/wet contact conditions.

Prediction of friction coefficient of treated betelnut fibre reinforced polyester (T-BFRP) composite using artificial neural networks

The current work is an attempt of using artificial neural network configuration to predict frictional performance of treated betelnut fibre reinforced polyester (T-BFRP) composite. Experimental dataset at different applied loads (5–30 N) and sliding distances (0–6.72 km) was used to train the ANN configuration with a large volume of experimental data (492 sets) where three different fibre mat orientations were considered (anti parallel, parallel and normal orientations). Results obtained from the developed ANN model were compared with experimental results. It is found that the experimental and numerical results showed good accuracy when the developed ANN model was trained with Levenberg–Marqurdt training function.

Polyester composite based on betelnut fibre for tribological applications

A polyester composite based on betelnut fibres was fabricated and its adhesive wear and frictional performance studied using a block on disk machine at different applied loads and sliding distances at 2.8m/s sliding velocity under dry/wet contact conditions. SEM was used to study worn surface morphology. The results revealed that betelnut fibre reinforced polyester (BFRP) composite had better wear and frictional performance under wet contact condition compared to dry. The wear mechanism of the BFRP composite was predominated by micro and macro-cracks in the polyester regions and debonding of fibres.

ADHESIVE WEAR AND FRICTIONAL BEHAVIOR OF MULTILAYERED POLYESTER COMPOSITE BASED ON BETELNUT FIBER MATS UNDER WET CONTACT CONDITIONS

In the current study, a multilayered polyester composite based on betelnut fiber mats is fabricated. The adhesive wear and frictional performance of the composite was studied against a smooth stainless steel at different sliding distances (0–6.72 km) and applied loads (20–200 N) at 2.8 m/s sliding velocity. Variations in specific wear rate and friction coefficient were evaluated at two different orientations of fiber mat; namely parallel (P–O) and normal (N–O). Results obtained were presented against sliding distance. The worn surfaces of the composite were studied using an optical microscope. The effect of the composite sliding on the stainless steel counterface roughness was investigated. The results revealed that the wear performance of betelnut fiber reinforced polyester (BFRP) composite under wet contact condition was highly dependent on test parameters and fiber mat orientation. The specific wear rate performance for each orientation showed an inverse relationship to sliding distance. BFRP composite in N–O exhibited better wear performance compared with P–O. However, the friction coefficient in N–O was higher than that in P–O at lower range of applied load. The predominant wear mechanism was debonding of fiber with no pullout or ploughing. Moreover, at higher applied loads, micro- and macrocracking and fracture were observed in the resinous region.

Wear and frictional performance of betelnut fibre-reinforced polyester composite

The current work is an attempt to use betelnut fibres as reinforcement for tribo-polyester composite. The composite was fabricated using hand lay-up technique. It consists of 13 layers of randomly distributed betelnut fibre mats and 15 layers of polyester. Wear and frictional behaviours of the composite were studied against a polished stainless steel counterface using a newly developed block-on-disc machine. Tests were conducted at 2.8 m/s sliding velocity, different applied loads (5-30 N), and sliding distances (0-6.72 km). In addition, the orientation of the fibre mats, with respect to the sliding direction of the counterface, was considered, i.e. anti-parallel (AP-O), parallel (P-O), and normal (N-O). The worn surface morphology was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Optical microscopy was used to observe the wear track surface on the counterface. In addition, the modifications on the counterface roughness were studied. This work revealed that the presence of betelnut fibre in the matrix, namely P-O, enhanced the wear and frictional performance of the polyester by about 98 and 73 per cent. Applied load has less effect on the specific wear rate and friction coefficient of the composite, especially in P-O and AP-O. The composite behaved differently in N-O in which the wear and friction increased when the applied load and sliding distance increased. The composite exhibited higher wear performance in P-O compared with AP-O followed by N-O. In N-O, poor support of the fibres to the resinous was observed, i.e delamination, pullout, and breakage in the fibres. In AP-O, the wear mechanism was predominated by plastic deformation, micro- and macro-cracks in the resinous regions associated with pullout, and breakage of the fibre. In P-O, debonding of fibres was the main wear mechanism.

Biosoftening of arecanut fiber for value added products

The arecanut husk fibers are predominantly composed of cellulose and varying proportions of hemicellulose, lignin, pectin and protopectin. Microbes that selectively remove lignin without loss of appreciable amounts of cellulose and fiber strength properties are extremely attractive for the biosoftening of arecanut fiber. The fungal growth occurs during the first 72 h of incubation and by one week, enzyme production reaches the maximum level, thereby improving color and softness of the fiber. Maximum MnP production of 233.2 IU ml −1 was observed at pH 7.0 for Phanerochaete chrysosporium and a maximum activity of 221.8 IU ml −1 was observed at pH 5.0 for Phanerochaete strain. Maximum improvement of color (brightness) and softness and maximum MnP production of 321.3 IU ml −1 was achieved in a medium lacking both carbon and nitrogen for P. chrysosporium whereas maximum improvement in color and softness and MnP production of 341.2 IU ml −1 was achieved in a medium lacking only carbon for Phanerochaete sp. The fiber treated with P. chrysosporium showed 35.1% and Phanerochaete sp. showed 25.7% increase in strength when compared to the untreated fiber. Elongation of the fiber treated with P. chrysosporium was 5.0% and that treated with Phanerochaete sp. was 4.2% compared to the control fiber which had an elongation of 3.7%. The biosoftened arecanut fibers can be exploited commercially for the production of furnishing fabrics, textiles etc by blending with cotton, viscose and polyester.

Studies on promoting activity of Taiwan betel quid ingredients in hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Previous studies indicated that Taiwan betel quid is a promoter rather than an initiator during the carcinogenesis of hamster buccal pouch carcinoma. The maximum promoting activity can be demonstrated 24 weeks after betel quid implantation, following an initial application of 0.5% DMBA (7,12-dimethyl benzanthracene) three times per week for 4 weeks. In the present study, components of Taiwan betel quid and its additives (dry betel nut fibre, piper betel, slaked lime, cold aqueous extract, and hot aqueous extract) were applied respectively or in various combinations to investigate their promoting activity. One hundred and thirty Syrian hamsters were divided into 13 groups based on different combinations of the betel quid ingredients applied. The incidence of tumours in the hamster buccal pouch was significantly higher in groups exposed to dry betel nut fibre (P < 0.01) and cold aqueous extract (P < 0.05). The results indicate that betel nut fibre and cold aqueous extract are the major components of betel quid that may promote carcinogenesis in the hamster buccal pouch.