Effect of Alkali-treatment on Structural, Thermal, Tensile Properties of Dichrostachys Cinerea Bark Fiber and Its Composites

Abstract

The effect of alkali-treatment of the chemical composition, structure, thermal stability, tensile strength, and surface topology of dichrostachys cinerea bark fibers (DCFs) was analyzed by Chemical analysis, XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM, and AFM in this investigation. The alkali treatment of raw DCFs with 5% (w/v) NaOH and 90 min of soaking period were recognized to be optimal by the chemical analysis. It is interesting to notice that optimally treated DCFs own improved cellulose (78.4 wt.%), lesser hemicellulose (4.6 wt.%) and lignin (9.12 wt.%) contents, increased crystallinity index (65.63%), tensile strength, thermal stability, and improved surface topography compared with raw DCFs. The findings revealed that optimally treated DCFs were appropriate fiber as reinforcement material in polymer composites. The various weight percentages of raw and optimally treated DCF composites were prepared by hand lay up and compression molding methods. Further, the mechanical testing of prepared composites was undergone as per the ASTM standard.

Keywords

• dichrostachyscinerea fibers
• chemical analysis
• thermal stability
• surface topology
• scanning electron microscope
• tensile strength