Plant Fibers Research Articles

Nanocrystalline Cellulose Modulates Dysregulated Intestinal Barriers in Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent chronic inflammation of the colon with increasing incidence and prevalence, which could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. It is urgent to find an effective method with few side effects. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is from plant fibers, has a good biocompatibility and high biosafety. Herein, we used NCC to treat UC and evaluated its treatment effect by the disease activity index, intestinal pathology, inflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins, and mucins. We studied the impact of NCC on mucin expression and gut microbiota to discuss the therapeutic mechanism. NCC can effectively treat UC by regulating the MAPK pathway of mucin 2 and the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Odoribacter, which could not cause the body damage. NCC could not cause body damage compared to the medications, while it had a better effect on the regulation of MUC2 compared to the present drug substitutes. NCC is a practical alternative for the treatment of UC.

Enset Fiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid-Based Biocomposites for High-Performance Application

In recent years, there has been growing interest in using plant fibers to reinforce materials in modern manufacturing. This study focuses on the development of a novel biocomposite made from an enset fiber (EF) and polylactic acid (PLA) matrix using compression molding at a hot-pressing temperature of 170 °C and pressure of 7 MPa for 7 min. Before preparing the biocomposites, the fibers were chemically modified with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and cut into shorter fibers with a 40 mm average length in size. Then, the extent of modifications on the mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical behavior, morphology, and water absorption were investigated. The tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples as per ASTM standards. Moreover, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and the water absorbency of the biocomposites were investigated, and the results were graphically shown and explained. The results indicate that the biocomposite treated with 5% NaOH exhibited significant improvements in tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength compared to the untreated composite. The tensile modulus and flexural modulus of 5% NaOH-modified enset fiber biocomposite were also enhanced by 55.8% and 70.3% compared to untreated enset fiber biocomposite. The highest tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength found for the PLA composite reinforced by EF treated with 5% w/v NaOH solution were 20.16 MPa, 30.21 MPa, and 12.02 kJ/m2, respectively. In general, the modification of natural fibers improves adhesion at the interface and therefore decreases the water absorption and improves the dynamic mechanical properties of biocomposites.

Accelerated ultraviolet aging behavior and numerical simulation of ramie/carbon fiber reinforced polyethylene terephthalate glycol hybrid composites

Multi-fibers reinforced polymer hybrid composites can be designed to achieve excellent comprehensive performance through maximizing fibers physical and chemical properties. The accelerated ultraviolet (UV) aging behavior and mechanical degradation of natural ramie fiber (R) and carbon fiber (C) reinforced polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) hybrid composites were investigated to broaden the industrial applications and understand the performance of ramie plant fiber products. The results show that the color and thermal properties of PETG matrix after UV aging have changed. The flexural properties of R/C laminated composites vary with the material types and layup sequences. The flexural modulus of the unaged [C/R/C/R]s and [C/C/R/R]s composites increase 1.2 and 1.0 times as compared with the unaged [R/C/R/C]s and [R/R/C/C]s. After 28 days of UV aging, the flexural strength retention rates of the [R/R/R/R]s, [R/R/C/C]s, [R/C/R/C]s, [C/R/C/R]s, [C/C/R/R]s and [C/C/C/C]s composites were 77.1 %, 79.2 %, 78.8 %, 81.7 %, 83 % and 87.4 %, respectively. The fracture strains of the R/C composites increase significantly after UV aging. The multiscale finite element model of the R/C composites is established to study the UV aging mechanism and predict the mechanical degradation. The knowledge gained in this work will be beneficial for the design and engineering application of plant fiber reinforced polymer hybrid composite materials.

Estimation of the hygro-elastic behavior of polymeric composites during moisture aging considering hygromechanical coupling

This study aims to combine, using a numerical tool, different phenomena of hygromechanical coupling in a unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite and to compare the results obtained with the cases where these couplings are considered separately. The first case of coupling considers the effect produced by the mechanical state on the diffusive behavior of the material. This was accomplished using the free volume theory, which links the trace of the matrix strain tensor to the moisture absorption capacity and the diffusion coefficient. The second case takes into account plasticization, that is, the effect of humidity on the mechanical properties of composites, without modifying the diffusion parameters. Finally, these two mechanisms are combined in a third configuration, which represents the original contribution of this present work. The results include the water content profiles, the diffusion coefficient, the transverse Young's modulus, the transverse hygroscopic expansion coefficient, as well as the induced local mechanical states. The interest of the work carried out is to pave the way for the extension to more complex materials, such as plant fiber biocomposites, in which the water absorption by the hydrophilic fibers should not be neglected anymore.

Study on Properties of New Biodegradable Plant Fiber (Agave Decipiens) for Polymer Reinforcement

<p>The article involves in the process of study on novel plant fiber from agave plant species known as agave decipiens. The fiber was mechanically extracted from their leaves and fiber was chemically treated using sodium hydroxide by 5% (w/v). Using various analyses, the fiber was characterized and its properties were obtained. From chemical constituent analysis it was confirmed that hemicellulose, amorphous lignin, and other impurities were removed to some extent, and using x-ray diffraction (XRD), an improvement in crystallinity index was observed (i.e. from 47.99% to 52.29%). Increased crystallinity provides better tensile stress from 479.302 MPa to 494.172 MPa, which was confirmed by single fiber tensile test. A change in physical diameter was observed using a digital microscope, the outer diameter was reduced to 117.66µm from 121.84µm. Change in chemical components was identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Alkaline-treated (AT) fiber sustains a temperature of about 240oC during thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Study on surface morphology was conducted with help of scanning electron microscope (SEM). Concluding that alkaline treatment made some impact on fiber characteristics and made it suitable for reinforcement.</p>

Environmentally-friendly, sustainable ScCO2-assisted fabrication of poly (lactic acid)/ramie fiber composite foams

In this study, green ramie fiber reinforced Poly (lactic acid) composite foam is prepared through a novel physical method based on one-step autoclave foaming and molding process, only using environmentally friendly CO2 as the foaming agent. The biodegradable ramie fiber not only remain the green nature of Poly (lactic acid), but also enhance the foaming performance, by virtue of the powerful ability in improving the melt strength and crystallization. The unique cavity structure inside the plant fiber can absorb large amount of CO2 and promote CO2 solubility in the composite by 32.9%. Melt bimodal peaks exist in the composite after the CO2 foaming treatment and the crystallinity levels up by 39.6% compared to pure Poly (lactic acid). The enhanced melt strength by ramie fiber reinforcement and the crystallinity by CO2 plasticizing effect jointly promotes the foaming process and cellular structures from collapsed and huge cells to idea regular and refined micropores. In addition, the different interfacial bonding abilities between matrix and fiber contribute to different cell structures around the fibers. The work provides a green method and an important guideline for the preparation of low-carbon and environmental-friendly lightweight polymer composite foams.

Mechanical properties of solidified dredged soils considering the effects of compaction degree and residual moisture content

The use of biopolymers in combination with natural plant fibers to solidify soils has proven effective in civil engineering, as they are not only considered sustainable, but also have excellent mechanical properties. However, the specific quantitative relationships between mechanical strength and residual moisture content (RMC) in the cured system are still unclear. In this study, the solidification effects of xanthan gum (XG, weight ratio to dry soil of 1.5%) and jute fiber (JF, weight ratio to dry soil of 0.6% and length of 20 mm) on the Yellow River dredged soil (YRDS) were investigated at different degrees of compaction (90%, 94% and 98%) after reaching a preset RMC (75%, 50%, 25% and 0%). The results show that unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) increase significantly with decreasing RMC and increasing compaction. The effect of internal moisture on STS was even more dramatic, with a maximum increase of 404% especially when the RMC was reduced from 25% to 0%. The contribution rate of strength (Rcsi) of UCS reaches 49.09%–51.85%, while the Rcsi values of STS at the same RMC of 25% reach only 19.86%–23.08%. A logistic function based model can predict well the mechanical strength at different RMC (R2 ≥ 0.9789). MIP and SEM results show that increasing the degree of compaction mainly affects the large pores (20–100 μm) and improves the mechanical strength by enhancing the bonding effect between XG and JF in the soil particles. In addition, 94% compaction ratio is an optimal choice for practical engineering applications.

Integration of refining and in situ growth of silver nanoparticles for improving the antibacterial and antiviral performance of plant fibers

Integration of refining and in situ growth of silver nanoparticles for improving the antibacterial and antiviral performance of plant fibers

Novel okra woven fabric reinforced polylactic acid composites: Mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties

AbstractContemporary researchers are directing attention towards enhancing the structural integrity of biodegradable matrices, such as polylactic acid (PLA), through the incorporation of plant fibers. The utilization of novel fibers is becoming more prevalent to achieve the specific demands of composite applications, particularly in the automotive and packaging fields. Woven fabrics are commonly favored for reinforcing composites due to their elevated specific strength and dimensional stability. In pursuit of this context, we have developed a unique woven fabric using 100% okra fiber and utilized it in the production of PLA biocomposites. This approach was made due to the unexplored potential of okra woven fabric in the field of composite manufacturing. To optimize the performance of the composites, three distinct weight proportions of okra woven fabric (OWF) were chosen, including 20%, 30%, and 40%. The obtained composites were mechanically, morphologically, and thermally characterized. The manufactured composite's maximum tensile and thermal property was attained by adding 20% OWF to the PLA. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that 20% OWF composite possessed superior fiber‐matrix adhesion, improving all properties' efficacy. The overall findings reveal that the OWF/PLA composites are promising as a green material for applications in the automotive and packaging industries.Highlights A novel class of composite has been created using 100% okra woven fabric. The composite with 20% fabric content showed the best mechanical properties. Thermal properties of composites are also optimized using 20% fabric content. SEM confirms the strong fiber‐matrix bonding of 20% OWF/PLA composites. The composites are suitable for automotive and packaging applications.

Effect of enzyme retting conditions on bast bundle differentiation and mechanical properties of flax technical fibers

Compared to conventional dew retting, enzymatic retting has the potential to control fiber extraction process and produce high quality plant fibers for industrial scale composite applications where low Family videovariation in properties are desired. While most studies depend upon retting duration and fiber fineness as measures for effective retting degree, in this study we report the effect of enzyme concentration and enzyme retting duration on the flax bast-woody core bond strength and resulting technical fiber fineness. Fiber peel tests and microscopy coupled with statistical analysis showed that while only retting duration has significantly effect on fiber fineness, the bond strength between the bast-woody core interphase is significantly affected by both enzyme concentration and time. Single fiber tensile tests were conducted on flax fibers from different retting conditions at 10 mm and 30 mm gauge lengths. Fibers extracted from a high degree of enzymatic retting performed well at 10 mm gauge length but showed lower tensile strength at 30 mm gauge length, indicating over-retting. These findings can guide optimizing the enzyme retting process conditions at industrial scale for improved fiber properties with reduced variability.

Investigating the influence of plant fiber geometry on apparent transverse elastic properties through finite element analysis

This study explores the link between plant fiber geometry and its transverse behavior, focusing on the resulting apparent transverse stiffness as determined by analytical models. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) plant fiber transverse compression is simulated with two-dimensional models. Simplified geometric representations of common geometric features are examined, showing how distinct attributes influence behavior. The fiber lumen is shown to decrease apparent stiffness, while elliptical geometry and flat sections increase it. An adaptation of analytical models for elliptical cross-sections yields a 93 % improvement on identification accuracy. Furthermore, the transverse compression of realistic geometries, extracted from microscopy images and presenting a blend of different features, is simulated. The lumen’s impact on apparent stiffness is shown to outweigh the effects of other features. These findings show the importance of apparent stiffness over fiber cell wall stiffness and how it may evolve under repeated loading, which has important implications for the composites sector.

Selective adsorption of heavy metal ions by different composite-modified semi-carbonized fibers

Highly efficient remediation materials can treat wastewater contaminated by heavy metals. In this study, semi-carbonized plant fiber (Spf) and chemical fiber (Spf) were prepared as the research material. Dodecyl dimethyl betaine and chitosan were used to singly modify semi-carbonized fibers (Sfs). Then, the single-modified Sfs were remodified by sodiumalginate to produce composite-modified Sfs. The microscopic morphology of the tested materials was studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, energy dispersion spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area (SBET) detection. The selective adsorption effect of the tested materials on water polluted by multiple heavy metals was studied, and the effects of temperature, pH, and ionic strength were compared. SEM, FTIR, and TG results proved that single and composite modifiers were modified on the surface and changed the surface properties of Spf and Scf. The metal ion adsorption capacity of modified Spfs was higher than that of modified Scfs. The maximal adsorption capacity of metal ions on test materials presented the trend of Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II). The optimum adsorption conditions were 30 °C, pH = 6, and ionic strength of 0.1 mol/L, and the adsorption process was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing reaction. Electrostatic adsorption, precipitation, complexation, and ion exchange were the forms of adsorption for heavy metal ions. SBET and cation exchange capacity of the modified Sfs were the key factors that determine the adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions.

Constitutive relationships and acoustic emission behavior of plant-fiber/magnesium oxychloride cement composites under uniaxial compressive load

Plant-fiber/magnesium oxychloride cement composites (PF-MOC) are bio-composite building materials that are produced by mixing magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) with plant fibers. The application of PF-MOC in construction engineering can not only promote the reuse of bio-waste but also compensate for the shortage of wood. In this study, 33 prismatic specimens of PF-MOC were prepared using the extrusion molding method for the uniaxial compression test. The compression characteristics of PF-MOC under uniaxial compression load were studied by combining the test with acoustic emission (AE). The results illustrated that the apparent density of the PF-MOC ranged from 771 kg/m3 to 1806 kg/m3, and the compressive strength ranged from 4.7 MPa to 44 MPa. PF-MOC uniaxial compressive stress–strain relationship model was established. The compressive strength of PF-MOC with different types and content of plant fiber is closely related to the apparent density, and thus a compressive strength prediction model was developed. The PFC-MOC with bamboo scrap exhibited the highest AE energy near the peak load, indicating greater brittleness. Conversely, the PF-MOC with wheat straw demonstrated a well-distributed energy release throughout the compression process, suggesting lower brittleness in the straw specimens. The utilization of the b-value proved effective in characterizing the crack development and size transformation process of PF-MOC. Furthermore, SEM revealed that straw fibers exhibited the weakest bonding with the MOC matrix, while wood sawdust fibers and bamboo scrap showed superior interactions with the hydration products of MOC.

Experimental Analysis of Wheat Bran Composite for Lightweight Fuel Tank Applications

Since last 50 years, awareness about finding a suitable alternative to steel as a material for fuel tank, has been increased in order to eliminate the demerits of steel like corrosive nature and higher weight. Polymers are looked upon by researchers as a promising option for fuel tank material. Among the polymers, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is extensively researched in the last three decades of twentieth century. But by considering complex geometry of fuel tank, the flexibility of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is found to be very helpful and LLDPE also allows to further reduce the weight of the fuel tank. In last two decades there is extensive research on further improving the properties of LLDPE by making composite using plant fiber. Wheat Bran (WB) is a waste material from agro industries and is recycled by using as a reinforcement material to LLDPE. So, LLDPE-WB composite as a material for the fuel tank, formed using compression moulding technique, is considered in this study. Tensile properties of the LLDPE-WB composite are experimentally evaluated and compared with LLDPE (without reinforcement). It has been found that the tensile strength of the LLDPE-WB decreases while the tensile modulus of the LLDPE-WB increases, as compared to LLDPE. Percentage elongation at break decreases drastically for LLDPEWB composite as compared to LLDPE, which is very widely observed behaviour in case of any plant fiber composite of LLDPE.

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of the effective thermal conductivity in plant fiber porous media generated by Quartet Structure Generation Set

This study proposes a novel approach that combines a Quartet Structure Generation Set (QSGS) algorithm with the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) to investigate effective thermal conductivity in plant fiber materials. The QSGS algorithm is utilized to construct a two-dimensional digital structure of the porous media, enabling the determination of effective thermal conductivity through LBM simulations. The simulation results demonstrate good agreement with experimental data, exhibiting a maximum relative error of only 1.7%. The study examines the influence of key factors on effective thermal conductivity, including temperature, porosity, fiber distribution, and fractal dimension. The effective thermal conductivity increased by approximately 6.1% for each 10 °C increase in temperature between 10 °C and 50 °C. Moreover, the effective thermal conductivity showed an average decrease of 16.3% with each 10% increment in porosity. The increase in thermal conductivity becomes more significant with increasing temperature and decreasing porosity. Conversely, an increased fractal dimension correlates with a decline in effective thermal conductivity. The effective thermal conductivity is influenced synergistically by the directional growth probability of the solid phase and the direction of heat flow. The findings offer valuable insights into thermal conductivity behavior and heat transfer mechanisms in plant fiber porous media.

Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite

The use of natural fibers in composite is increasing day by due to eco-friendly nature of the fibres and reuse of waste. Natural fibers can be classified according to their source of origin such as plant fiber, mineral fiber, and animal fiber. In the present article, epoxy was taken as the matrix and wool fiber for reinforcement with flax flax fiber for fabricating the composite using the hand layup technique. The impact of the hybridization of flax and wool fibers on the mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composite was investigated. These fibers were blended in varying percentages with fixed fiber content of 5% [(100% flax fiber), (40% wool/60% flax fiber), (50% flax/50% wool fiber), (60% wool fiber/40% flax), (100% wool fiber)] with epoxy resin and sampled as F5, WF23, WF2.5, WF32, and W5 respectively. Tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength were investigated through experimentation. All hybrid composites outperformed non-hybrid wool fiber composites in terms of mechanical properties. The wool fiber is poor in mechanical strength which was compensated by high strength of flax fiber.

Extraction, Characterization and Suitability Examination of Tinospora Cordifolia (TC) Fibers for Their Applicability as Reinforcement in Composite Materials

The study focused on extracting and characterizing natural cellulose fibers from Tinospora Cordifolia (TC) for use as reinforcement in composite materials. The extraction process involved several steps including plant material selection, fiber separation, and purification. The resulting fibers were characterized using various techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. This research showed that the extracted cellulose fibers had high crystallinity and a uniform diameter, making them suitable for use as reinforcement in composites as experimented two samples with 22.6 and 25.7% of Hemicellulose, 41.26 and 41.96% of Cellulose and 23.66 and 22.7% of Lignin. The study concludes that TC is a promising source of natural cellulose fibers for composite reinforcement. The mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with TC cellulose fibers were evaluated and compared with those of conventional synthetic fibers. It was found that the composites reinforced with TC cellulose fibers exhibited superior mechanical properties, such as higher tensile strength and improved flexibility. This highlights the potential of natural cellulose fibers as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers in the composite industry. The extraction and characterization of natural cellulose fibers from TC demonstrate their potential as reinforcement in composite materials. The study provides valuable information for future research and development in the area of natural fibers for composite reinforcement. The utilization of TC cellulose fibers in composites not only improves their mechanical properties, but also provides a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to traditional synthetic fibers.

Integrating Omics Technologies for a Comprehensive Understanding of the Microbiome and Its Impact on Cattle Production.

Ruminant production holds a pivotal position within the global animal production and agricultural sectors. As population growth escalates, posing environmental challenges, a heightened emphasis is directed toward refining ruminant production systems. Recent investigations underscore the connection between the composition and functionality of the rumen microbiome and economically advantageous traits in cattle. Consequently, the development of innovative strategies to enhance cattle feed efficiency, while curbing environmental and financial burdens, becomes imperative. The advent of omics technologies has yielded fresh insights into metabolic health fluctuations in dairy cattle, consequently enhancing nutritional management practices. The pivotal role of the rumen microbiome in augmenting feeding efficiency by transforming low-quality feedstuffs into energy substrates for the host is underscored. This microbial community assumes focal importance within gut microbiome studies, contributing indispensably to plant fiber digestion, as well as influencing production and health variability in ruminants. Instances of compromised animal welfare can substantially modulate the microbiological composition of the rumen, thereby influencing production rates. A comprehensive global approach that targets both cattle and their rumen microbiota is paramount for enhancing feed efficiency and optimizing rumen fermentation processes. This review article underscores the factors that contribute to the establishment or restoration of the rumen microbiome post perturbations and the intricacies of host-microbiome interactions. We accentuate the elements responsible for responsible host-microbiome interactions and practical applications in the domains of animal health and production. Moreover, meticulous scrutiny of the microbiome and its consequential effects on cattle production systems greatly contributes to forging more sustainable and resilient food production systems, thereby mitigating the adverse environmental impact.

Physiochemical investigation of untreated and alkali treated agave plant fiber

Plant fiber-reinforced composites occupied an important role in the production of bio-degradable goods. Polymer composites with synthetic fiber as reinforcement produce adverse effects on the environment because of their higher decomposition rate. In most cases, natural fiber reinforced composites were used in the automotive industry to make body door parts, interior panels, bumpers, dashboard units, two-wheeler mudguards, doom parts, etc. During the reinforcement of fiber with matrix there are a lot of factors say moisture absorption, interfacial bonding, etc., involes in affecting the composite. So in order to reduce those risk factors, natural fiber has to be pre-treated before involving it in reinforcement. Chemical treatment was useful in the removal of impurities, wax, and other unwanted substances on the outer surface of the fiber. This paper deals with the novel study in identifying the optimum concentration of alkali solution for suitability in making the two-wheeler mudguard. Pre-treatment involves soaking of agave fiber at different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution say 2, 4, 6, and 8%(w/v) for about 3 h. The impact on different concentrations of NaOH treatment was confirmed with the change in the diameter of the fiber using a digital microscope, chemical composition analysis was performed, a single fiber tensile test, and a scanning electron microscope was also conducted. From the test results, it was noted that sodium hydroxide treatment removes unwanted substances present on the fiber surface. Meanwhile, when the concentration of the sodium hydroxide was increased the fiber got damaged due to the abrasion of cellulosic constituents that reduces the property of fiber, making it unsuitable for reinforcement. At the end of this study, 4% of NaOH-treated fiber showed better results from all tests and that was used for making a mudguard.

Guidelines for The Development of Nutrients for Serow in Captive: A Case Study of Chemical Composition and Feed Intake for Captive Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) in Chiang Mai Night Safari

The objective of this research was to determine the chemical composition and feed intake for captive serows (Capricornis milneedwardsii) in Chiang Mai Night Safari. Nine serows (5 years old with average weight of 60.33±5 kg) with 90-day trial period were used in this study. Experimental dietary feeds were pisang awak banana, sweet corn, pangola hay, chinese water convolvulus, and maize plants. Chemical compositions were analysed by proximate analysis and Van Soest methods. Daily feed intakes were recorded to determine the dry matter intake. Completely randomized design (CRD) was used for the experimental design. The results showed that the sweet corn has significantly higher valuable organic matter than other feeds (P<0.001) while pangola hay shows significantly lower amounts of crude protein and lipids than other feeds (P<0.001). In addition, considering the amount of nutrient intake, serows show significantly higher feed intakes of dry matter, organic matter, and crude fiber of maize plants than other feeds (P<0.001). Therefore, the maize plants can be used as a source of energy for serows and utilize it for their livelihood growth. The maize plants also have lower cost compared to other types of feed. Therefore, the maize plants are suitable for use as a feed source to raise serows in captives for the conservation of serows in Thailand.