Chemical extraction and its effect on the properties of cordleaf burbark (Triumfetta cordifolia A. rich) fibres for the manufacture of textile yarns
Anny Geraldo Soppie,
Achille Desire Omgba Betené,
Pierre Marcel Anicet Noah,
Abel Emmanuel Njom,
Fabien Betené Ebanda,
Atangana Ateba,
Armel Mewoli,
Didimus Nkemaja Efeze,
Roger Moukené
Affiliations
Anny Geraldo Soppie
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Textiles and Clothing Industry, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Achille Desire Omgba Betené
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Mechanical Engineering, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Corresponding author. Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon.
Pierre Marcel Anicet Noah
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Mechanical Engineering, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Abel Emmanuel Njom
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Mechanical Engineering, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Fabien Betené Ebanda
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Mechanical Engineering, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Atangana Ateba
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon; Department of Mechanical Engineering, ENSET, University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Armel Mewoli
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Didimus Nkemaja Efeze
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Roger Moukené
Laboratory of Mechanics, Doctoral Training Unit in Engineering Sciences (UFD-SI), University of Douala, P.O. Box: 1872, Douala, Cameroon
Tropical Triumfetta cordifolia (TC) fibre extracted from the equatorial region of Cameroon has been characterized as a potential fibre for textiles. An investigation of extraction parameters to soften this fibre is crucial to use it as a biobased material in the spinning process. To obtain textile quality fibres, 34 sodium hydroxide extraction tests were carried out to study the effect of extraction conditions on its characteristics. Thus, three levels of concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt%), temperatures (80, 100 and 120 °C) and durations (120, 180 and 240min) were used for extraction by cooking, and at room temperature, durations of 120, 150 or 180 min with three concentrations (2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 wt%) were considered. Only 6 combinations produced fibres that were clear and soft to the touch, without defects (corrugations, stuck fibres) and without residual bark epidermis at the macroscopic scale. For these fibres, the dissolution of non-cellulosic substances, morphological, physical, thermal and mechanical properties depended on the austerity of the alkaline retting. Under mild conditions, the SEM surfaces of the fibres showed large residues of the middle lamella, which made the lignin content (10 wt%) and hydrophilic function higher. Under medium conditions, the fibre surfaces were clean and slightly wrinkled (at 80 °C; 120min). Under severe conditions, heterogeneous transverse shrinkage and wrinkling were observed and accompanied by cellulose degradation (39 wt%) with a significant reduction in tenacity at 16cN/tex. The medium extraction conditions were considered more effective, and their fibres showed cellulose content up to 49 wt%, density up to 1.39 g cm−3, “Fickian” moisture absorption kinetics with saturation up to 11 wt%, thermal stability up to 237 °C, Young's modulus up to 3.7 GPa, tensile strength up to 113 MPa and tenacity up to 40cN/tex. These new results were compared with lignocellulosic textile fibres in the literature, showing similarity with banana, sisal and jute fibres.
