Chemical modification and characterization of kenaf fiber

• Main Author: Siti Khadijah, Ghazali
• Format: Undergraduates Project Papers
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/3384/1/19.CHEMICAL%20MODIFICATION%20AND%20CHARACTERIZATION%20OF%20KENAF%20FIBER.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/3384/

Composites produced by natural fiber as a reinforcement material were environmentally friendly since natural fiber can be biodegradable but it has some limitation because of their surface impurities. In this study, alkali treatment was performed on kenaf bast fibers in order to remove surface impurities. Grinding and without grinding kenaf bast fibers has been used. Kenaf bast fibers were immersed into 3%, 6%, and 9% concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions for 1 h, 3 h and 6 h. The effects of solution concentrations and treatment times on the mechanical properties of kenaf bast fibers were evaluated. Kappa test was achieved by using titration process and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of untreated and alkali treated kenaf bast fibers were carried out. Those results for Kappa test showed that the kenaf bast fibers treated with 6% NaOH at 3 h has lower kappa number and it showed that the lignin content was lower as well. Besides, results of scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the surface of fiber became cleaner after alkali treatment. In addition, composites reinforced by untreated and alkali-treated kenaf bast fibers were fabricated by using hot press method. Tensile tests were carried out for produced composites. Results showed that tensile strength of the composite using treated and without grinding fibers increased in comparison with the composite using without grinding untreated fibers and grinding and without grinding fibers.