Mechanical and Structural Characterization of Pineapple Leaf Fiber

Evidence-based research had shown that elevated alkali treatment of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) compromised the mechanical properties of the fiber. In this work, PALF was subjected to differential alkali concentrations: 1, 3, 6, and 9% wt/wt to study the influence on the mechanical and crystal prope...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fibers 2021-08, Vol.9 (8), p.51
Main Authors: Gaba, Eric Worlawoe, Asimeng, Bernard O., Kaufmann, Elsie Effah, Katu, Solomon Kingsley, Foster, E. Johan, Tiburu, Elvis K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cellulose
crystal size
Crystal structure
Crystallinity
Crystallites
Data analysis
Fourier transforms
Infrared analysis
Infrared spectroscopy
Leaves
Mechanical properties
PINEAPPLE leaf fiber (PALF)
Pineapples
Radiation
Software
Structural analysis
Tensile strength
Tensile tests
Variance analysis
X-ray diffraction
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Summary:Evidence-based research had shown that elevated alkali treatment of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) compromised the mechanical properties of the fiber. In this work, PALF was subjected to differential alkali concentrations: 1, 3, 6, and 9% wt/wt to study the influence on the mechanical and crystal properties of the fiber. The crystalline and mechanical properties of untreated and alkali-treated PALF samples were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and tensile testing analysis. The XRD results indicated that crystal properties of the fibers were modified with 6% wt/wt alkali-treated PALF recording the highest crystallinity and crystallite size of 76% and 24 nm, respectively. The FTIR spectra suggested that all alkali-treated PALF samples underwent lignin and hemicellulose removal to varying degrees. An increase in the crystalline properties improved the mechanical properties of the PALF treated with alkali at 6% wt/wt, which has the highest tensile strength (1620 MPa). Although the elevated alkali treatment resulted in decreased mechanical properties of PALF, crystallinity generally increased. The findings revealed that the mechanical properties of PALF not only improve with increasing crystallinity and crystallite size, but are also dependent on the intermediate bond between adjacent cellulose chains.
ISSN:2079-6439
2079-6439
DOI:10.3390/fib9080051