Influence of Alkali Treatment on Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Single Agave Angustifolia Fibre

Authors

  • Noor Afizah Rosli Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Farah Hannan Anuar
  • Ishak Ahmad

Keywords:

Physical properties, SEM, Single fibre test, Tensile test, X-ray diffraction

Abstract

The effect of alkali treatment on physical, tensile, and morphological properties of single Agave Angustifolia fibre was investigated. The fibre was extracted from Agave Angustifolia leaves using a fibre extracting machine. Alkali treatment using NaOH by reflux method for 2 hours was performed on the single fibre of Agave Angustifolia. The treated and untreated single Agave Angustifolia fibre's mechanical properties were tested using tensile tests. The alkali-treated single fibres show higher tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break than that of the untreated fibres. The crystallinity index and crystallite size increased after alkali treatment from X-ray diffraction analysis. Scanning electron and optical microscopy micrographs showed that Agave Angustifolia fibres' diameter decreased with alkali treatment. Besides, micrographs also reveal the reduction of the fibre's surface roughness with alkali treatment. Comparing the treated and untreated Agave Angustifolia fibres' mechanical properties with other well-known fibres show that this fibre has excellent potential to reinforce materials in various types of polymer matrices.

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Published

2021-04-03

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2021)

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Articles

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