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The present study reports the preparation and characterization of kenaf papers that reinforced with tapioca starch by using the ammonium zirconium (IV) carbonate as coupling agent. The examination shows the tearing resistance, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus of the kenaf papers are enhanced with the addition of starch and coupling agent, up to 3% and 1%, respectively. Under the optimum formulation, the degree of coupling reaction is 87%. The Fourier transform infrared and morphological analyses confirm the performance enhancement of kenaf papers is achieved via the formation of chemical bonding between the kenaf fiber and tapioca starch.

The present work reports the influence of crosslink chemicals (vinyltrimethoxylsilane, dicumyl peroxide, and dibutyl dilaurate) on the mechanical strength and water absorption of the rice straw/high density polyethylene bio-composites. As revealed by the Fourier transform infrared spectra, the surface interaction between the fibers and polymer was improved through the use of vinyltrimethoxylsilane (coupling agent). By properly regulating the dicumyl peroxide (radical initiator) and dibutyl dilaurate (catalyst), the surface interaction was further enhanced, and thus the tensile and flexural strength. These observations were validated by the reduction in the water absorption of the bio-composites as well as the fracture surface examination.

The main objective of this article is to investigate the potential of using pineapple leaves as non-wood materials for paper production. The chemical compositions of non-wood raw materials and the advantages and disadvantages of different pulping methods were reviewed. The advantages of solvent pulping process over other techniques in terms of scale production, water, energy and chemicals consumption, and pulp quality might be the driving forces of using this process in future production of pulps from pineapple leaves waste. Pineapple leaves are cellulosic, abundance agro-waste of pineapple industries with chemical composition of high cellulose contents. Good mechanical properties, renewable resource, and low cost fibers are the main factors that lead to high potential of pineapple leaves’ fibers to be used as alternative raw materials in paper industries.

This article reports improved mechanical properties of epoxy/polyaniline nanowires nanocomposite (EP/PANI) by using para-hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid as the dopant. The PANI nanowires show no chain dedoping in the EP. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were maintained while achieving its conductive state and revealed pull-out of bundles rather than individual nanowire.

Novel conducting kenaf core/polyaniline (KC-PANI) biofibers were successfully prepared via in situ oxidative polymerization. The newly developed conducting KC achieved enhancement in DC conductivity up to seven fold compared to the raw KC. Enhanced interaction was obtained between the acetylated KC-PANI surfaces compared to untreated KC-PANI, without significant loss in the cellulose crystallinity. The morphological analysis revealed uniform layers of PANI deposited on the surface of acetylated KC. Epoxy resin (EP) containing KC-PANI (EP/KC-PANI composites) showed that the electrical percolation of KC-PANI occurred at 20 wt.%. The tensile strength of the EP/KC-PANI composites was slightly reduced compared to that of EP/KC composites at the same loading fraction. However, the flexural test revealed that the presence of KC-PANI increased the flexural strength of the EP composites by up to 15 wt.% loading. Electron micrograph of the EP/KC-PANI composite indicated favourable adhesion between components.

Conducting kenaf/polyaniline (KF/PANI) biofibers were successfully prepared via in situ oxidative polymerization. It was demonstrated, for the first time, the possibility of imparting new electronic properties on KF by coating with acid-doped PANI. The morphological analysis revealed three different PANI morphologies on the KF, depending on the type of acid doping. Enhanced interaction was achieved between the fiber-PANI surfaces, mainly from the π − π interactions. The newly developed conducting biofibers achieved enhancement in DC conductivity up to fivefold compared to the unmodified KF. Mechanical test on the conducting biofibers revealed no significant loss in the tensile properties.

Response surface methodology was used to simultaneously optimize the electrical and mechanical properties of newly developed conducting biofibers made up of kenaf fiber/polyaniline (KF/PANI). The effect of process parameters such as PANI amount (1–10 wt.%), dopant concentration (5–25 N), and molar ratio of aniline/oxidant solutions (0.5–1.5) were studied using Design of Experiment. Both of the responses (electrical conductivity and unit break) obtained a quadratic model. The experimental values were in good agreement compared to the optimized process. The scanning electron microscope images of the optimized sample revealed uniform PANI component on the KF with nanofibrillar features.

Newly modified biofibers made up of kenaf fibers (KF) and conducting polyaniline (PANI) were successfully prepared via in situ polymerization. Several characterization methods were done to elucidate the interaction between the KF surfaces and the in situ polymerized PANI. The PANI coated KF (KF/PANI) achieved new electronic properties, without sacrificing its mechanical properties and natural fiber characteristic. Initial mercerization on the KF yielded better PANI coated fibers compared to the untreated KF. Fiber bundle tensile test on the untreated KF/PANI revealed a drop in the unit break of about 48% compared to the untreated neat KF. Meanwhile, the mercerized KF/PANI showed reduction of about 17% compared to the uncoated mercerized KF. The mercerized KF/PANI exhibits polaronic transitions, existence of favorable IR peaks and Raman scattering, enhanced DC conductivity, and better morphological characteristic as a result of the in situ PANI coating. Such electronically modified natural fibers could be ...