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Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is known as pineapple residue and has potential as a textile material. Typical yarn manufacturing adopts ring spinning technique, yet it is challenging for course fibers, including PALF. PALF has been used in clothing and paper production using textile thread. It has the highest modulus among leaf fibers, comparable to synthetic fibers such as aramid and glass, and possesses the greatest tensile strength among leaf fibers. PALF has high fineness index makes it ideal for industrial yarn and woven fabric applications. Using natural fibers offers benefits such as being environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and lightweight yet sturdy. This study evaluates the physical properties of PALF-cotton yarn at three twist speeds, two total drafts, and three PALF-cotton blending ratios. The methodology of this study involves carding, drawing, and ring spinning of the PALF-cotton fibers. The process starts with cutting and opening PALF before blending it with cotton fiber using a carding machine. The finding shows that the average diameter and fineness values range from 205 μm to 458 μm and 31.2 to 67.0 tex, respectively. The study also reported that twist speed, total draft, and blending ratio affect the diameter and fineness of the yarns. In contrast, the increment of twist speed and total draft decreases the fineness and diameter of PALF-cotton yarns. Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) shows great potential in the apparel industry. Three regression models were presented to predict the future ring-spinning process, and pineapple waste can be repurposed into valuable products, reducing overall waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by reducing the usage of virgin materials and minimizing the environmental impact associated with textile production has increased. However, due to the subjectivity of reuse and recycling for waste management, developing textiles with sustainable and quality yarn characteristics remains a challenge. The main goal of this experiment is to produce a new sustainable blended open end (OE)‐rotor yarn by using pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and recycled waste fiber (RWF). OE‐rotor yarns are made in various proportions from RWFs generated from clothing wastes and bleached PALF at 20%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. To provide a more accurate evaluation, the properties of 100% PALF OE‐rotor yarns versus PALF‐RWF blended OE‐rotor yarns are compared. The evaluation of various physical properties led to the discovery that rotor yarns with up to 80% RWF‐PALF blended yarns had an acceptable number of physical attributes. The findings were encouraging given that the created yarns from RWF with PALF blended are less expensive than the yarns produced from standard raw materials. It also has a dual‐benefit for the manufacturers that it allows them to make money from the waste while also addressing zero waste management and disposal challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the potential utilisation of the agro-waste pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) as a green reinforcement in polypropylene (PP) composites. Generally, chemical treatment is used to clean the scratched PALF, and the effluents of those chemicals are discharged into nature. A new mechanical approach (carding) was used in this work to remove the remaining extraneous substances from the scratched and sun-dried PALF instead of using any chemical treatment. The percentage of sticky fibres and dust content decreased, and fibre breakage increased with the increasing number of carding passages. The individualized fibre properties were also influenced by the number of carding passages. The carding process reduced the diameter of PALF due to removal of extraneous materials. The tensile properties of raw PALF improved significantly until the fourth carding passage and further increase in the number of passages did not show any significant influence on the tenacity and modulus. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the elimination of hemicellulose along with other gummy and waxy substances from the individualized PALF due to the carding action. The crystallinity % also increased after the carding process due to the removal of amorphous substances. As the reinforcement-matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) strongly influences the physico-mechanical properties of composites, IFSS of carded PALF reinforced finer and coarser PP fibre micro-bonded composites was also studied using the single fibre pull-out test (SFPT). Among different composites, the fourth carding passed PALF-reinforced finer PP fibre micro-bonded composite showed the highest IFSS. Additionally, the load- extension curves and SEM images of the tensile pulled-out surface were investigated to study the interfacial adhesion between PALF and PP micro-droplets. The increased surface roughness of PALF due to the carding action resulted in an improvement in the IFSS of PALF-reinforced PP micro-bonded composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and ramie hybrid fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite samples were evaluated for their hardness strength and resistance to dry slide wear and air jet erosion. Primary reinforcement using the hybrid material was chosen from different lengths (10, 15, 20, and 25 mm) and weight percentages (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). The hardness strength of the hybrid composite varied from 74 to 97 Shore D hardness strength. A dry sliding wear test was conducted with the key parameters of load (20, 30, and 40 N), time (20, 10, 7 min), and speed (160, 320, and 479 rpm). By using the data analyzing software, Taguchi optimization method, the key contribution parameters were identified. In the air jet erosion experiment, impact angle (45°, 60°, and 90°), erodent velocity (28, 41, and 72 m/s), and discharge rate (1, 2.5, and 3.3 g/min) parameters were used. Fiber and matrix materials agglomeration effect and bonding behavior were identified by using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The 20 mm length with 30% of the PALF and ramie hybrid fiber‐reinforced composite sample achieved high hardness strength (97 shore D) and created a high resistance toward wear and erosion studies. Highlights: Natural plant pineapple leaf and ramie fibers are mixed with an epoxy matrix.Used Taguchi analysis to determine the means and signal‐to‐noise ratiosDifferent weight percentages of the PALF and ramie hybrid compositesDry sliding wear and air jet erosion studies are conducted.Individual parameter contributions were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new physical method was used to process agro-waste pineapple leaf fibres (PALF) instead of any chemical treatment for fabricating polypropylene (PP) matrix composites. The carding process was used for individualization and partial fibrillation of PALF, as well as for the removal of dust and sticky fibres. The high melt viscosity of PP hinders its penetration into the composite reinforcement. To overcome this difficulty, the separated and fibrillated PALF and PP fibres of different fineness were blended (50% by weight) in the carding process to ensure homogeneous distribution of reinforcement and matrix phases within composites. The blended carded sliver was further parallelized through a gill-drawing process, and subsequently, unidirectional composites were fabricated using the compression moulding technique. The used carding process with an optimum number of passages did not reduce the fibre length or deteriorate the mechanical properties of fibres and was found effective in improving the fibre surface roughness, leading to an improved fibre-matrix interface. The carding process also removed the non-cellulosic materials from PALF, resulting in an increase in the cellulose percentage. The fourth carding passage of the longest PALF led to the removal of non-cellulosic materials by 12 wt%. A homogeneous fibre-matrix distribution was achieved in the case of longer PALF and finer PP fibres, leading to the highest tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of 124.60 MPa, 6.24 GPa, 103.27 MPa, 6.16 GPa, and 104.28 kJ/m2 of fabricated composites, respectively. This study is the first to demonstrate the use of carding for the processing of PALF and how PALF length and the carding process influence different properties of fabricated composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The capacitive behavior of a supercapacitor (SC) based on activated carbon derived from biomass is enhanced when a halogenated iodide (in this case, iodide, Iˉ) is added to the acidic aqueous electrolyte. In this work, we prepared ultrahigh capacitive performance of O and Mg self‐dual‐doped activated carbon (AC) from Ananas comosus leaf fiber (ACLF) via chemical activation at high temperature, followed by activation under the protection of CO2 to produce commercially feasible electrodes for commercial‐scale SC devices. The prepared ACLFs were characterized through SEM–EDX, XRD, adsorption/desorption of N2. Moreover, in a 2‐electrode setup, the capacitive activity of the prepared ACLFs were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques in a redox additive electrolyte (1 M H2SO4 + 0.05 M KI). RESULT: The pairs 3Iˉ/I3ˉ, 2Iˉ/I2, 2I3ˉ/3I2, and I2/IO3ˉ generate reduction–oxidation (redox) peaks in the CV curves and a significant Faradaic plateau in the GCD curves. The ACLF samples delivered an outstanding gravimetric capacitance and energy density as high as 581 F g−1 and 80.69 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 346.14 W kg−1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The enhanced capacitive activity is a result of the Faradaic pseudocapacitance associated with the redox‐active ions present in the acidic electrolyte solution. This work describes a facile and economical approach to acquiring a potential candidate of electrode materials for SC devices with exceptional performance, achieved via a redox additive‐based electrolyte system. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to investigate the influence of the utilization of dammar gum (DG), which is a biodegradable and renewable binder, on the mechanical properties of short pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced tapioca biopolymer (TBP). Samples with variable DG concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight) and a constant 30% PALF composition were created with varying TBP percentages using an internal mixing process and compression molding. The results showed that PALF‐TBP with 10% DG had the highest mechanical properties with tensile, flexural, and impact strength of 19.49 MPa, 18.53 MPa and 13.79 KJ/m2, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images prove the enhanced mechanical characteristics. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that the DG improves the matrix and PALF interface. The results show that the utilization of DG significantly enhanced the mechanical characteristics of composites. In addition, it is anticipated that it will be able to create PALF‐TBP‐DG composites as a potential alternative for conventional polymers in various applications, especially in engineering applications such as automotive and packaging industries. Therefore, it is expected to be capable of contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs). Highlights: Recent studies show that damar gum (DG) has potential as a sustainable binder.Optimal composition is a critical factor in bio‐composite manufacturing.The mechanical properties improved the most when 10 wt% of DG was applied.DG could serve as a viable substitute for petroleum‐derived coupling agents.Bio‐composites may serve as alternative polymers for forthcoming applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural by-products have long hinder farmers, and subsequently, the food supply chain. Making use of their natural by-products will both reduce waste and increase industrial production. In particular, pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) can be extensively studied. Here, the curing kinetics of chemically modified PALF/epoxy resin crosslinked by an anhydride hardener was investigated by non-isothermal and isothermal methods with the differential scanning calorimetry technique. In this study, the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods, as well as Kamal's model, were employed to analyze the curing behavior of epoxy in non-isothermal and isothermal processes, respectively. The highest activation energies for pure epoxy and PALF/epoxy composite calculated differ when using the methods. Additionally, a decreasing trend in the activation energy values during the late stages of epoxy curing was observed. The results from Kamal's model indicate that the k1 values of the PALF/epoxy composite are only greater than those of pure epoxy at 100°C and 110°C. However, all the k2 values of PALF/epoxy are greater than those of pure epoxy. Additionally, the m value of the PALF/epoxy composite is lower than that of pure epoxy only at 100°C, while the n and m+n values of the PALF/epoxy composite are all greater than those of pure epoxy. Moreover, the results reveal that the Cure Index of the PALF/epoxy composite was larger than ΔH* and smaller than ΔT*. With PALF, it was found that the epoxy resin's curing rate was increased and the activation energy was reduced. Meanwhile, the degree of crosslinks was less than that of the virgin resin. It is speculated that the hydroxyl groups on the plant fibers and the amine groups on the coupling agent-modified fibers can promote the cross-linking reaction. However, the curing reaction of the composite is affected by steric obstacles and high viscosity resulting from the addition of PALFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of the kind of reinforcement on the sliding wear performance of a polyester matrix composite reinforced with glass fiber and pineapple leaf fiber is investigated. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the effects of the type of reinforcement on the sliding wear performance of a polyester matrix composite reinforced with glass fiber and pineapple leaf fiber. By using hot press molding and the 30% weight fraction of fiber reinforcement, polyester composites with four distinct compositions—PPP, GGG, PGP, and GPG—have been created. These composites' dry sliding wear experiment is carried out using a Pin on Disc wear testing device. The following parameters are used in experiments: a track radius of 50 mm, a sliding distance (SD) of 500 m, an applied load of 50, 70, or 90 N, and a sliding velocity of 3.14, 4.71, or 6.28 m s−1. For dedicated (PPP, GGG) and hybrid (PGP, GPG) polyester composites, the effects of load, sliding velocity (SV), and wear rate (WR) are studied. At 50 N and 3.14 m s−1 the COF for PPP and GGG dedicated composites is 0.68 and 0.70, respectively, whereas for PGP and GPG hybrid composites, it is 0.41 and 0.64. The PGP/GPG hybrid composites have a minimal wear rate of 3.34e‐8 m3 s−1 and are 80% more effective than dedicated composites. Utilizing the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, regression models are created to optimize the influence of various parameters, such as load, sliding velocity, and composition. Results of confirmation tests show excellent agreement with predictions generated using the developed mathematical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are on-going investigations on the utilization of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) as a cheap, safe, and eco-friendly natural fibre. The present work aimed to improve PALF preparation using ultrasonication, investigate the adsorption kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of PALF dyed with berberine dye, and to assess their associated molecular interactions. It was found that concomitant PALF exposure to NaOH solution (5% w/v) plus ultrasonication for 20 min successfully removed non-cellulosic substances from the fibre surface in a very much shorter time compared with the traditional non-ultrasound assisted method (24 h). An adsorption isotherm study of dyeing, the treated fibre with the natural yellow dye berberine revealed a strong adsorption dependence on the pH of the berberine solution with optimal uptake occurring at pH 9–10. A deeper assessment of the mode of dye binding was undertaken by DFT − based calculations on a model cellulose unit and berberine. It revealed that the interaction between berberine and cellulose (PALF) at pH 9.00 was likely to be substantially stronger than at lower pH. From the adsorption kinetic results, a higher affinity and more dye uptake were observed before equilibrium was reached. The adsorption isotherm data could be represented by the Langmuir isotherm (R2 > 0.99). The enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) values of dyeing were found to be −17.0 kJ mol−1 and −19.4 J mol−1 K−1 respectively, which pointed to the dye adsorption being an exothermic process. The negative standard affinity (Δµo) values at the different temperatures of 30, 60, and 80 °C were −11.2, −10.6, and −10.2 kJ mol−1, respectively. It affirmed the dye adsorption process as a spontaneous one. Higher temperatures resulted in a lower affinity and reduced dye uptake compatible with the process being exothermic. Berberine is a potentially useful natural dye for PALF without the need for additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research objectives to determine the effect of treating pineapple leaf fiber (PLF) with liquid smoke on the tensile toughness of composites and the impact strength of pineapple leaf fiber (PLF) reinforcement. The Method of immersing the fiber with liquid smoke was done in 1, 2, and 3 hours, then heating it in the oven at 40⁰c for 30 minutes. A tensile and impact test specimen following the ASTM D638 – Type IV standard and ASTM D5942 standard. The tensile strength of the composite at 1 hour of treatment was 64.42 MPa; at 2 hours, it increased by 72.53 MPa, and at 3 hours, it increased again by 74.65 MPa. In the composite impact test with fiber reinforcement, the 1-hour treatment was 9.32 J/m², the 2-hour treatment increased by 13.44 J/m², and the 3-hour immersion decreased by 10.21 J/m². The effect of liquid smoke treatment processing on PLF on the tensile strength and impact toughness of the composites shows that the PLF reinforcing composite experienced the most significant change in tensile strength at 3 hours of treatment, and impact toughness occurred at 2 hours of treatment; this shows that liquid smoke can change the strength of PLF to be stronger and tougher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Physically processed waste pineapple leaf fibre for high performance composite with polypropylene" published in the journal Cellulose. The correction addresses the duplication of Figures 7 and 8 in the original publication and provides the correct versions of these figures. The corrected article has been made available online. The publisher, Springer Nature, maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. The authors of the article are Habibur Rahman, Sohel Rana, Apurba Das, and Ramasamy Alagirusamy. [Extracted from the article]

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), striped sunflower seed fiber (SFSF), and watermelon seed (WMS) are considered natural waste polymer materials, which are biodegradable and sustainable. This study presents new novel thermal insulation and sound absorption materials using such waste as raw materials. PALF, SFSF, and WMS were used as loose, bound, and hybrid samples with different compositions to develop promising thermal insulation and sound-absorbing materials. Eleven sample boards were prepared: three were loose, three were bound, and five were hybrid between PALF with either SFSF or WMS. Wood adhesive was used as a binder for both the bound and hybrid sample boards. Laboratory scale sample boards of size 30 cm × 30 cm with variable thicknesses were prepared. The results show that the average thermal conductivity coefficient for the loose samples at the temperature range 20–80 °C is 0.04694 W/(m.K), 0.05611 W/(m.K), and 0.05976 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. Those for bound sample boards are 0.06344 W/(m.K), 0.07113 W/(m.K), and 0.08344 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. The hybrid ones between PALF and SFSF have 0.05921 W/m.K and 0.06845 W/(m.K) for two different compositions. The other hybrid between PALF and WMS has 0.06577 W/(m.K) and 0.07007 for two different compassions. The sound absorption coefficient for most of the bound and hybrid boards is above 0.5 and reaches higher values at some different frequencies. The thermogravimetric analysis for both SFSF and WMS shows that they are thermally stable up to 261 °C and 270 °C, respectively. The three-point bending moment test was also performed to test the mechanical properties of the bound and hybrid sample boards. It should be mentioned that using such waste materials as new sources of thermal insulation and sound absorption materials in buildings and other applications would lead the world to utilize the waste until zero agrowaste is reached, which will lower the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we compare the reinforcing efficiency of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and cultivated flax fiber in unidirectional poly(butylene succinate) composites. Flax, known for robust mechanical properties, is contrasted with PALF, a less studied but potentially sustainable alternative. Short fibers (6 mm) were incorporated at 10 and 20% wt. levels. After two-roll mill mixing, uniaxially aligned prepreg sheets were compression molded into composites. At 10 wt.%, PALF and flax exhibited virtually the same stress–strain curve. Interestingly, PALF excelled at 20 wt.%, defying its inherently lower tensile properties compared to flax. PALF/PBS reached 70.7 MPa flexural strength, 2.0 GPa flexural modulus, and 107.3 °C heat distortion temperature. Comparable values for flax/PBS were 57.8 MPa, 1.7 GPa, and 103.7 °C. X-ray pole figures indicated similar matrix orientations in both composites. An analysis of extracted fibers revealed differences in breakage behavior. This study highlights the potential of PALF as a sustainable reinforcement option. Encouraging the use of PALF in high-performance bio-composites aligns with environmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to fabricate pineapple leaf fibre epoxy reinforced with three different orientations which are unidirectional, bidirectional and inclined 45°. E-glass fibre is also introduced in every orientation to observe the change in strength. Fabrication of all these epoxies reinforced pine apple fibre is being done by Hand Layup technique. Two tests are done on these composites that are Tensile Test and Flexural Test. The tensile strength of unidirectional oriented fibre is increased when the E-glass is introduced with composites. The tensile property of unidirectional fibre is reinforced when the E-glass is brought together with composites. The maximum tensile strength was observed in the E-glass unidirectional pineapple fibre composite. Optimum Flexural strength is observed for inclined 45° specimen without E-glass reinforcement, whereas with the introduction of E-glass unidirectional composite maximum flexural strength is yielded. From the results, it can be proposed that Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF) reinforced with epoxy and E-glass showed best characteristics for unidirectional orientation of fibre for tensile and in flexural loading. Based on the results obtained, this pineapple composite material is recommended to use for lightweight packaging applications like food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fiber‐based polymer composites have greater advantages due to their superior mechanical properties and environmentally friendly nature. In the present study, pineapple leaf (PALF) and roselle fiber (RSF) reinforced vinyl ester hybrid composites were fabricated by the hot compression molding method, and their physical properties, mechanical properties, water absorption rate, and tribological behavior were investigated and analyzed. This research investigation has been conducted to reveal a significant hybrid of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites for commercial engineering applications. Mechanical properties were examined for their tensile, flexural, compression, hardness, and impact properties. Moreover, the fractured surfaces of the tensile specimen were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Water absorption behaviors were then accomplished by immersing the composite samples in standard distilled water and analyzing the water penetration percentage. The tribological behavior was simply studied by using a pin‐on‐disc tribometer apparatus to evaluate the specific wear rate and coefficient of friction. From the results, it was concluded that the hybrid composites provided higher results in all kinds of formats when compared with single‐fiber composites. Among the hybrid composites, the 24PALF/16RSF/60VE sample was particularly promising for its improvement in mechanical properties of 103.9% tensile strength, 109.7% flexural, 26.2% compression, 56.9% impact, and 113.5% hardness compared to the neat resin sample. Thus, the results illustrate that the hybridization of PALF and RSF fibers with a vinyl ester matrix generates enhanced mechanical behaviors, which indeed make it desirable for use in non‐structural electrical and electronics insulation board and component applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, gray relational analysis (GRA) was carried out to study the influence of fiber length, fiber loading, and injection parameters on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the developed green composites. The green composite was developed by chemically modifying the pineapple leaf fiber (PLF). PLF was chemically treated with 1% Na2CO3 for a period of 6 h. The chemically modified PLF was chopped at a fiber length (L) of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm. The fiber loading (D) was also varied to 10, 20, and 30 wt% to study the effect of both fiber length and loading on the tensile and flexural properties of the PLF/PLA green composite developed through injection molding. GRA was employed to determine the optimal fiber length and fiber loading for achieving better tensile and flexural properties of PLF/PLA green composite. The injection parameters considered for producing the PLF/PLA green composite were (a) injection pressure (70, 90, and 110 bars), (b) injection speed (40, 50, and 60 mm/s), and (c) melting temperature (165, 175, and 185°C). The mechanical (tensile, flexural, compression, and shear) and thermal (TGA: thermogravimetric analysis and DTG: derivative thermogravimetric analysis) behavior of the developed PLF/PLA green composite was studied and analyzed. The morphology of the fractured specimens was also inspected using field‐emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) treatment on the tensile strength of an alkali-treated pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced with tapioca-based bio resin (cassava starch) was studied. Design/methodology/approach: The PALF was exposed to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment in varying concentrations of 2.0, 3.7, 4.5 and 5.5g prior to the fiber treatment with KMnO4. The treated and untreated PALFs were reinforced with tapioca-based bio resin. Subsequently, they were subjected to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and tensile test analysis. Findings: The FTIR analysis of untreated PALF revealed the presence of O-H stretch, N-H stretch, C=O stretch, C=O stretch and H-C-H bond. The tensile test result confirmed the highest tensile strength of 35N from fiber that was reinforced with 32.5g of cassava starch and treated with 1.1g of KMnO4. In comparison, the lowest tensile strength of 15N was recorded for fiber reinforced with 32.5g of cassava starch without KMnO4 treatment. Originality/value: Based on the results, it could be deduced that despite the enhancement of bioresin (cassava starch) towards strength-impacting on the fibers, KMnO4 treatment on PALF is very vital for improved tensile strength of the fiber when compared to untreated fibers. Hence, KMnO4 treatment on alkali-treated natural fibers preceding reinforcement is imperative for bio-based fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the effect of adding different proportions (3/7, 1/1, and 7/3) of pineapple leaf fiber to composites reinforced with olive trunk leaves powder by measuring tensile properties, moisture absorption, and thermal stability. The results showed that the proportion of pineapple leaf fiber in the hybrid composites strongly influenced tensile properties, moisture absorption, and thermal stability. Increasing pineapple leaf fiber loading from 12 wt% to 28 wt% resulted in an important increase in tensile strength, namely an average of 46%. However, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the hybrid composites were inferior to those of the parent composites, which could be attributed to the relative inability of the hybrid composites to withstand tensile loads. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis results showed that the introduction of even the lowest amount of pineapple leaf fibers in the olive trunk leaves improved the thermal stability of the composites, bringing the degradation onset above 240°C, therefore suggesting the possibility of a future processing with most thermoplastic matrices. The differences in thermal stability between epoxy composites with 7/3 olive trunk leaves powder/pineapple leaf fiber, 1/1 olive trunk leaves powder/pineapple leaf fiber, and 3/7 olive trunk leaves powder/pineapple leaf fiber were very limited. Regarding moisture absorption, the presence of olive trunk leaves powder considerably reduced the weight gain, and also passing from 1/1 to 7/3 olive trunk leaves/pineapple leaf fibers offered a distinct advantage, measurable as more than 1% reduction in water saturation content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) on the mechanical properties of long pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)-reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. The content of PALF was fixed at 20 wt.% and the CNF content was varied at 1, 3, and 5 wt.% of the epoxy matrix. The composites were prepared by hand lay-up method. Comparison was conducted between CNF-, PALF- and CNF–PALF-reinforced composites. It was found that the introduction of these small amounts of CNF into epoxy resin caused very small effects on flexural modulus and strength of neat epoxy. However, impact strength of epoxy with 1 wt.% CNF increased to about 115% that of neat epoxy, and, as the content of CNF increased to 3 and 5 wt.%, the impact strength decreased to that of neat epoxy. Observation of the fractured surface under electron microscope revealed the change in failure mechanism from a smooth surface to a much rougher surface. For epoxy containing 20 wt.% PALF, both flexural modulus and strength increased significantly to about 300% and 240% that of neat epoxy. The composite impact strength increased to about 700% that of the neat epoxy. For hybrid systems containing both CNF and PALF, there were few changes observed in both flexural modulus and strength compared to the PALF epoxy system. However, much improvement in impact strength was obtained. By using epoxy containing 1 wt.% CNF as the matrix, the impact strength increased to about 220% that of 20 wt.% PALF epoxy or 1520% that of neat epoxy. It thus could be deduced that the spectacular improvement in impact strength was due to the synergistic effect of CNF and PALF. The failure mechanism leading to the improvement in impact strength will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enormous number of pineapple plantations in Malaysia are dominated by small to large agronomists governed by the Malaysian Pineapple Industrial Board, which addresses almost all pineapple industry-related issues. In Malaysia, more than 147,000 hectares of land are utilized for pineapple plantations, which create 65 tons of residue per hectare. Consequently, the waste production comes from the long leaves of the harvested mother plants of pineapples that are cut off to allow the young sucker to grow freely, which then can be found abundantly. However, the handling practice for pineapple leaf waste in Malaysia is still poorly managed. Realizing the importance of this issue, as an alternative to reduce waste, fibers from pineapple leaves were extracted and dyed to improve the aesthetic value and marketability of pineapple leaf fiber by adding dyeing substrates using a low energy consumption dyeing approach. Two different techniques of dyeing were used to investigate the morphological, mechanical, color strength, and colorfastness properties of dyed pineapple leaf fibers. The dyeing of pineapple leaf fibers was investigated using C.I. reactive blue 5, C.I reactive red 11, and C.I Reactive yellow 86 at different concentrations. As a result, the characterization of dyed pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) showed that the dyeing process modified the original structure of PALF but no significant differences were observed on dyed PALF in the comparison of each dyeing technique. In addition, under optimized conditions of two dyeing techniques dyed PALF presented lower breaking strength, whereas comparable breaking strength value was gained with each technique. Fibers of both dyeing techniques displayed interesting color findings with excellent colorfastness to washing, lightfastness, and good colorfastness to perspiration. The infrared dyeing method resulted in similar and better dyeing behavior compared to exhaustion dyeing techniques. This method could further be refined by considering the production of textile materials, which can provide alternative to the usage of highly expensive silk fibers in the songket making industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for natural fibers as an alternative to synthetic fibers is on the rise. Constraints of current fiber extraction units are limited to single raw material and has low energy efficiency. Hence, this study was taken up for the design and development of a multiple fiber extractor, modelling and optimization of the machine operating parameters, and economic analysis of the developed prototype. The designed machine operates based on the raspador principle. Box Behnken design (BBD) and artificial neural network (ANN) were used to evaluate the performance and optimize the variables of the designed multiple fiber extractor. The input variables included roller speed (550, 735, and 920 rpm), gap/clearance of the roller (2, 3, and 4 mm) and the pitch/distance between the spline slots (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mm), while the output variables were yield (kg), capacity (kg/h), energy consumption (kJ), and efficiency (%).The prediction accuracy of quadratic models (R2 = 0.962–0.985) developed in BBD were better than the ANN models (R2 = 0.831–0.946). The optimized combination was found to be 714.23 rpm roller speed, 3.12 mm gap, and 1.49 mm pitch of the blade, which yielded (1.48 kg) a desirability value of 0.95. The XRD results indicated the highest crystallinity index was recorded for Pineapple leaf fiber compared to banana fiber. SEM results revealed that extracted BF having typical network structure (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and waxes) compared to smooth PLF (lignin and hemicellulose). The fibers extracted using the developed machine was utilized for making biodegradable cutlery. Practical Applications: This study was taken up to design a multifiber extractor, to extract fibers from agricultural residues after their useful parts are taken for consumption or processing. Thus, a single machine capable of handling multiple byproducts can utilize those residues, which were previously discarded as waste. Moreover, the extracted fibers are used for the manufacture of biodegradable cutlery. With a small investment, this machine can provide an additional income to the farmers, along with taking away the concern regarding waste disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the variability in the morphological, physiological, mechanical, thermal, and crystallographic properties of fiber types of Curaua (Ananas comosus var. erectifolius) extracted from different leaf regions. Initially, histological sections of cross-sectional leaves were prepared and a classification of vascular, primary, and secondary types were carried out with an optical microscope. Then, bundles were extracted from the leaves, separated into fiber classes (vascular fibers—VF, primary fibers—PF, and secondary fiber—SF). Finally, the morphological, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of these different types of fibers were determined by microscopy, the tensile test, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction techniques, respectively. The results showed no statistical differences for the tensile strength (300 MPa), Young's modulus (13 GPa), and elongation (2.3) between the three fiber classes. PF and SF showed superior mechanical performance than VF, which can be attributed to leaf morphology and plant physiology, as SF and PF types are responsible for the leaf structural function. In addition, different results were found for PF, SF, and VF for the aspect ratio (270, 269, and 135) and crystalline cellulose contents (74, 75 and 66%) and crystal sizes (26, 28 and 21 Å), respectively. The thermal behavior and the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin did not vary among the fiber types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple leaf fibres are an abundant agricultural waste product that contains 26.9% cellulose. The objective of this study was to prepare fully degradable green biocomposites made of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and microcrystalline cellulose from pineapple leaf fibres (PALF-MCC). To improve compatibility with PHB, the PALF-MCC was surface modified using lauroyl chloride as an esterifying agent. The influence of the esterified PALF-MCC laurate content and changes in the film surface morphology on biocomposite properties was studied. The thermal properties obtained by differential scanning calorimetry revealed a decrease in crystallinity for all biocomposites, with 100 wt% PHB displaying the highest values, whereas 100 wt% esterified PALF-MCC laurate showed no crystallinity. The addition of esterified PALF-MCC laurate increased the degradation temperature. The maximum tensile strength and elongation at break were exhibited when adding 5% of PALF-MCC. The results demonstrated that adding esterified PALF-MCC laurate as a filler in the biocomposite film could retain a pleasant value of tensile strength and elastic modulus whereas a slight increase in elongation can help to enhance flexibility. For soil burial testing, PHB/ esterified PALF-MCC laurate films with 5–20% (w/w) PALF-MCC laurate ester had higher degradation than films consisting of 100% PHB or 100% esterified PALF-MCC laurate. PHB and esterified PALF-MCC laurate derived from pineapple agricultural wastes are particularly suitable for the production of relatively low-cost biocomposite films that are 100% compostable in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were biopulped using Trametes versicolor, and the resulting biopulp was bleached with xylanase-enzymatic treatments. The biopulping was extensively described using determinations of fiber morphology, color, chemical composition, extractive content, and thermal stability using the structural characteristics determined by XRD and paper properties. The results showed that the chemical and enzymatic treatments shortened the fiber, almost to 50%, and the Kappa index decreased from 27 to 13. Cellulose and holocellulose contents increased from 65% to 74% and from 86% to 91%, respectively, but extractives, lignin (from 12% to 4%), pentosans (from 25% to 14%) and the crystallinity decreased from 58% to 67% in both chemical bleaching and further xylanase-enzymatic processing. Xylanase)enzymatic processing allowed us to obtain whiter (increased lightness color and decreased redness and yellowness tonality) and heavier paper, even though it presented decreased mechanical properties (decreased stress resistance, rupture length, tear resistance and index longitudinal tearing). The xylanase-enzymatic treatment with the best pulping and paper proper)ties is when the biopulp is treated with a xylanase enzyme concentration of 0.04% (w/w). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-metal laminates consisting of alternating metal and fiber-reinforced polymer layers have displayed remarkable performance in several engineering applications. This work aims to identify the feasibility of incorporating pineapple leaf fiber to partially supersede glass fiber in thermoplastic-based fiber-metal laminates. Fiber-metal laminates made of pineapple leaf/glass/ polypropylene/aluminum were fabricated using the hot press molding technique. The tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and quasi-static indentation tests were performed. The findings indicated that the hybridization of glass with pineapple leaf fibers improved the mechanical properties of the laminates. The results are particularly promising in [G/P/G] laminates in which their tensile and flexural strengths are 38.98% and 20.19% higher than [P/P/P] laminates. In addition, the Charpy impact strengths of [G/P/G] laminates are also 236.66% and 175.68% greater than those of [P/P/P] laminates. In terms of indentation properties, the maximum indentation forces of [G/P/G] laminates are 16.71% and 13.76% higher than those of [P/P/P] laminates at indenter diameters of 12.7 and 20.0 mm, respectively. Interestingly, inplane and out-of-plane properties of [G/P/G] laminates were comparable to [G/G/G] laminates. Thus, it is anticipated that the hybridization concept could escalate the utilization of natural fibers as a potential reinforcement for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the effects of acetylation treatment on pineapple leaf fiber (Ananas comosus) reinforced with tapioca bio resin (cassava starch) were studied. The mechanical and chemical properties were examined using a yarn textile machine and an FTIR instrument. Alkali (NaOH), glacial acetic acid (CH3COOH) and acetic anhydride ((CH3CO)2O) were used for the treatment. After the treatment, an increase in the surface roughness of the fiber and a reduction in its hydrophobic nature were observed. A better mechanical locking property was also achieved due to the introduction of void on the fiber's surface. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that there were slow but consistent changes that led to the removal of materials like oil, lignin, wax and pectin when the treatment time was increased. The results show various peaks in the absorbance versus wave number relation and the presence of O-H stretch, H-C-H bond, N-H stretch and N=O bond. The results from the tensile test proved that acetylation-treated pineapple fiber reinforced with cassava enhances the mechanical strength of the fiber when compared with untreated fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from the widely discussed pineapple leaf fibers, normally referred to as PALF, fibers from other parts of the plant also exist, particularly those in the fruit crown, which are known as pineapple crown leaf fibers (PCLF). In this work, PCLF were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results indicated that the properties of PCLF do not greatly differ from those observed for PALF. In particular, a cellulose content of over 67% was observed, with approximately 76% crystallinity. The main degradation phenomena of the fibers took place between 230 and 380 °C, peaking at 324 °C, which is in line with observations in other fibers which have similar cellulose and crystalline contents. There was 13.4% residue at 680 °C. Bare mechanical retting of PCLF, although not allowing a full and thorough degumming, which would only be achieved through more aggressive chemical treatment, enabled aspect ratios of over 103 to be obtained. This indicates some potential for their application as short fibers in composites. In this respect, the considerable roughness of PCLF when compared to other leaf-extracted fibers, and in particular when compared to PALF, could suggest an ability to obtain a sufficiently sound fiber–matrix interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of pineapple leaf fiber composites drawn from the vastly untapped Yankee pineapple plant variant were tested in this study. The properties of silane treated (T-PALFC) and untreated (UT-PALFC) samples were evaluated using flexural testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermomechanical analysis (TMA). In this study, the T-PALFC sample was specifically treated in silane for 3 hours. The results show that the bending strength is improved by up to 97% in PALF composite compared to epoxy composite.The DMA results show that the UT-PALFC possess 7.1% higher storage modulus than T-PALFC, indicating untreated fiber attribute to high dynamic property in composite. The TMA finding shows the sequence of linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as follows: T-PALFC > Neat epoxy > UT-PALFC. Furthermore, this research shows T-PALFC displayed lower properties compared to UT-PALFC because the composite had low cross-linked network. This is because T-PALFC had low glass transition temperature, Tg as shown in tan delta curve and was further supported in differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Moreover, morphological analysis of the cross-section image of the T-PALFC shows the existence of a wide gap between the PALF and the matrix compared to UT-PALFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, petroleum-based plastic production has increased exponentially, but its negative impact on the environment, wildlife, and human life is not getting much attention. It is high time now to search for possible alternative materials to replace these plastics. The present study investigates the change in surface morphology, mechanical, and thermal properties of rice starch bioplastic films reinforced with untreated and treated pineapple leaf fibers (PALF). Three types of films were synthesized: Type A (Pure rice starch film), Type B (Rice starch film reinforced with untreated PALF), Type C (Rice starch film reinforced with alkaline-treated PALF) using starch and PALF in the 10:1 weight ratio. It was observed that after alkaline treatment of PALF, interfacial bonding between PALF and rice starch matrix was improved, which further helped to increase the tensile strength of the films. Dynamic mechanical analysis of films showed an increase in storage and loss modulus values after incorporating PALF into the rice starch matrix. The thermal stability of films was also improved after incorporating treated PALF into it because of the removal of low molecular weight components from the surface of PALF. Synthesized bioplastic-composite films were also biodegradable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable composite materials based on biopolymers and natural fibers have attracted remarkable consideration globally due to their tremendous potential for a variety of applications. However, the poor compatibility among the natural fibers and biopolymers causes the reduced mechanical properties of the biocomposites, limiting their application spectrum and acting as one of the major barriers to commercialization. Therefore, surface modification of fibers using chemicals has been explored by several authors. However, most of the chemicals used are hazardous to the environment when used commercially. In the current investigation, sustainable chemicals (sodium bicarbonate and borax) were used to modify the surface of the pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs). Untreated and treated PALF/polylactic acid biocomposites were manufactured using the commercial-scale injection molding machine. The selected chemical treatment strategies were found to be efficient for improving the strength, crystallinity, and thermal properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). An improved adhesion among the fibers and matrix, enhanced strength (tensile, flexural, and impact), and modulus (tensile and flexural) of the biocomposites were also recorded after the treatment. A robust structure-property linkage for PALF and their biocomposites has also been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic fiber composites are used in diversified applications because of their high strength-to-weight ratio. The energy associated with the production of synthetic fibers and their non-degradable characteristics is a major factor of concern looking from an environmental point of view. Natural fibers are derived from plants and animals, are biodegradable, and have properties similar to synthetic fibers. Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) are obtained from pineapple leaves and can be effectively used as a reinforcement in the polymer matrix. PALF-based composite can be used in automobile, aerospace, sports, biomedical and furniture industries. Utilizing pineapple leaves for producing fibers which will be used in composites will not only reduce the associated environmental problems but also will give lucrative income opportunities to farmers and industries. This review paper deals with surface treatment methods for PALF. Mechanical and thermal properties of PALF reinforced composite are discussed in detail. The hybrid composite formed by PALF as one element is discussed. Overall, this review article highlights the previous work and identifies the gap for future research in the field of PALF reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever increasing demand of petroleum products leads to depletion of resources. In order to substitute, biodegradable, perishable and abundantly available natural products are in trend. Because of high cellulosic content, pineapple leaf fibers exhibit excellent mechanical properties hence are used in automobile industries and building construction purposes. In this review article, the detailed study of pineapple leaf fibers was done in order to demonstrate the possible applications of their developed composites with various different matrix types. The property analysis of pineapple leaf fibers were studied for their mechanical and thermal strength apart from other chemical, physical and morphological properties. The cultivation and origin of pineapple leaf fibers have also been summarized in brief so as to understand its economical value and sustainability. It is aimed to have all research previously done related to the properties, extraction, hybridization, processing techniques of pineapple leaf fibers at one place in summarized form for its better application as a sustainable, eco-friendly and potential composite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research article focuses on succinct characterization of pineapple leaf fibers before and after different chemical modification techniques so as to ease its usage in developing light weight composite tiles for bathroom floor or wall tiles in building and construction industry. After the surface treatment namely, 7% alkali, 3% acrylic acid, and 1% silane treatment, fibers were analyzed through physical, chemical, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties using various sophisticated instruments and concluded with the fact that in general, surface treatment helps in strengthen the fiber properties. Fibers with 7% alkali treatment exhibit maximum improvements, 55% increase in tensile strength, 40% increase in crystallinity index, 13% increase in density and 12.6% decrement in diameter. Similar enhancements in fiber quality were witnessed in physical, chemical, and thermogravimetric analysis. After 60% mass degradation of the fiber, fibers with 7% alkali treatment show better thermal stability till around 700°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of natural fibers as a filler into rubber matrix can be of relevance for their eco-friendly nature and sustainability. In particular, it is expected that natural fibers would assist the stiffening of rubber, which would in turn depend on the geometry, in particular on the aspect ratio (length/diameter) of fibers introduced. Here, short untreated pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were introduced with random orientation into a natural rubber (NR) matrix. Different lengths (5, 10, and 15 mm) and various amounts (ca. 12, 21, and 35 wt.%) of untreated pineapple fibers are used as the filler for natural rubber composites. The composite was fabricated using vulcanization at 150°C after mill roll mixing. Several properties have been determined, namely curing time, tensile and tear characteristics, and hardness. The results indicated a clear transition between rubbery and hard plastic behavior and also that curing is still feasible, though slower, even with the highest amount of fibers of the maximum length used. An improved tear, further increasing with the amount of fibers, and generally higher hardness has also been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous researchers tried to improve the mechanical properties of 3D printed part by adding short or continuous, natural, or nonnatural fibers as the reinforcement for thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix. None of the research found in the literature incorporates continuous natural pineapple leaf fiber as the reinforcement for polylactic acid (PLA) matrix by using 3D printing. The objective of this research is to investigate the tensile strength, the elongation, and the dimensional error of the 3D printed parts made of continuous pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced PLA composite using different values of extrusion temperature and feed rate. The experiment involves 32 factorial design with two replications and, therefore, prints 18 tensile test specimens according to ASTM D638. Based on the result of the experiment, it can be concluded that the use of continuous pineapple leaf fiber as the reinforcement for the PLA matrix increases the tensile strength of the composite. The use of continuous pineapple leaf fiber does not increase the dimensional error value of the composite part beyond the maximum value of the common fused deposition modeling printed part. Moreover, the required time to print the composite part is the same as the required time to print the pure PLA part. However, the elongation of the composite part is lower than the pure PLA part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact response behaviours of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/carbon hybrid laminate composites for different ply orientations and stacking sequences. The laminates were manufactured using a vacuum infusion approach with various stacking sequences and ply orientations classified as symmetric quasi-isotropic, angle-ply symmetric, and cross-ply symmetric. The laminates were analysed using an IMATEK IM10 drop weight impact tester with an increment of 5 J until the samples were perforated. This investigation reveals that the overall impact properties of PALF and carbon as reinforcements were improved by a beneficial hybridised effect. The laminates with an exterior carbon layer can withstand high impact energy levels up to 27.5 J. The laminate with different stacking sequences had a lower energy transfer rate and ruptured at higher impact energy. The laminates with ply orientations of [0°/90°] and [±45°]8 exhibited 10% to 30% better energy absorption than those with ply orientations of [±45°2, 0°/90°2]s and [0°/90°2, ±45°2]s due to energy being readily transferred within the same linear ply orientation. Through visual inspection, delamination was observed to occur at the interfaces of different stacking sequences and ply orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop a completely sustainable, biodegradable, eco‐friendly and green composite material for packaging of food and medical products by an additive manufacturing technique such as 3D printing. This report presents the mechanical, crystalline, chemical bonding and thermal characteristics of a novel pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) green composite manufactured by 3D printing technique. Both powdered raw and alkali‐treated PALFs were respectively mixed with PLA and extruded as filaments for 3D printing into composite test specimens. The characterization study reveals that the 3D printed composite with 3 wt% (alkali‐treated) PALF reinforcement exhibited maximum tensile and flexural characteristics. The density of the 3D printed composite specimens increased with increase in wt% of PALF. On the other hand, the 3D printed composite specimens blended with raw PALF showed enhanced elongation at break compared to alkali‐treated PALF reinforced composite specimens. The microstructural images of the 3D printed composite specimens confirms the existence of impurities, voids and fiber degradation phenomenon. The Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the chemical bonding nature of the 3D printed composite specimens. The X‐Ray diffraction was used to calculate the crystalline size and crystallinity index. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the 3D printed composite specimen possessed adequate thermal stability for use in packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]