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The treatment method of natural fiber is one of the factors that influences its properties. There are several reports on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment of many natural fiber. Though there are works on NaOH treatment of the fruits fiber, however, works on Borassus flabellifer Leaf fiber (BFLF) is sparsely reported. Hence no report on the optimum conditions for sodium hydroxide treatment of Borassus Flabellifer Leaf fiber. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing the optimum concentration and time for alkaline treatment on the properties of BFLF. The fiber extraction was carried out using water retting method for 24 h. Experimental design was carried out using Design Expert 12.0 adopting Central composite design in response surface methodology. NaOH concentration of 0–5 wt% and time of 1–12 h were used as the independent variables. The responses were water absorption, elongation (%), modulus of elasticity and tensile strength. The surface morphology of the fiber was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the functional group changes established using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to indicate effect of NaOH treatment (FTIR) spectroscopy to show the functional group changes due to NaOH treatment. The optimum concentration and treatment time was established as 2 wt% NaOH and 4 h, respectively, with corresponding responses of water absorption, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and elongation (%) were 2.07%, 977.378 MPa, 6971.02 MPa, 5.178%, respectively. Using these optimum treatment conditions of time and NaOH concentration, the responses were validated to be 1.88%, 920.019 MPa, 6943.73 MPa, 4.99 mm having a desirability of 0.963. The SEM revealed rough surfaces and increased porosity for the treated fiber compared to the untreated. The FTIR spectra showed reduction in peaks representing lignin at wavelength of 3321.1 cm−1 to 3306.1 cm−1, which indicated that the NaOH treatment resulted to decrease in lignin in the fiber. The properties of the BFLF obtained at the optimum treatment conditions were within range of other fibers used in composite materials development, hence, BFLF treated at these conditions is suitable for composite development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present scenario, the searching for novel plant fibers able to be used as reinforcement of polymer composites is highly appreciable. This study deals with extraction and characterization of Eleusine indica grass fibers extracted from its stem by manual retting process. From this study, it was found that the Eleusine indica has higher cellulose of 61.3 wt% content, density of 1143 kg/m3, average tensile strength and Young's modulus equal to 22 MPa and 10.75 GPa, respectively. From the XRD studies, it was noted that the Crystallinity Index (CI) of Eleusine indica was 45%. The surface morphology of Eleusine indica grass was examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Chemical functional group were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal stability of EIF was evaluated using TG and DTG curves from Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The characterization results confirmed that Eleusine indica grass could be used for the production of sustainable fiber-reinforced polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applicability of natural fiber-reinforced composites in automobile, aerospace like sectors has been increasing as more number of research works is concentrating on natural fibers owing to their eco-friendly nature. Biodegradability of natural fibers is main advantage of them over artificial fibers. Natural fiber-reinforced composite possesses good thermal and mechanical properties besides other requirements. For this reason, investigation of one such natural fiber-reinforced composites has been the focus of the present study. In the present work, composites made up of abutilon indicum fiber reinforced with epoxy have been prepared. Mechanical, morphological, thermal, and spectroscopic studies on the test specimens prepared using the above composites were carried out to evaluate their respective strengths. Also, the effect of alkali treatment (NaOH) for the fibers was studied and evaluated. Scanning electron microscope results indicated that the composite made up of alkali-treated fibers possessed better mechanical properties. Using differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetric analysis apparatus thermal behavior of the composites and using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies, the presence of function groups like C–O, C–H was determined. Thus, characterization of abutilon indicum fiber-reinforced epoxy composites has been carried and properties are evaluated for their applicability to automotive, aerospace similar industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]