The optimum sodium hydroxide concentration for high strength pla-rice straw composites
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.12.1.2018.14.0308Keywords:
Poly-lactic acid; rice straw fibre; sodium hydroxide; flexural properties.Abstract
Most of the recent researches on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment discusses on only the improvement in the properties of natural fibre composites. However, there is a potential in studying the effects of sodium hydroxide treatment even further by identifying the optimum NaOH concentration in order to achieve maximum improvement in the properties of the natural fibre composites. This work reports the development of a composite material derived from both renewable resource and biodegradable material with the emphasis to identify the optimum NaOH treatment condition to achieve maximum improvement in the flexural strength of poly-lactic acid (PLA) reinforced with rice straw (RS) fibres. The RS fibres were treated with different NaOH concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 3.75, 5 and 6.25 mol/L) and the optimum NaOH concentration was 5 mol/L of NaOH where the flexural strength of the PLA/RS fibres were improved by 185%. Thus, it can be concluded that with the optimum NaOH concentration, a strong adhesion between the PLA matrix and the RS fibre which resulted in the improvement in the flexural strength.
References
Rokbi, M, Osmani, H, Imad, A & Benseddiq N. Effect of chemical treatment on flexure properties of natural fiber-reinforced polyester composite.Procedia Engineering. 2011;10:2092 - 2097.
Rout, J, Misra, M, Tripathy, S, Nayak, S & Mohanty A. The influence of fibre treatment on the performance of coir-polyester composites. Composites Science and Technology.2001;61(9):1303 - 1310.
Mwaikambo L & Ansell M.The effect of chemical treatment on the properties of hemp, sisal, jute and kapok fibres for composite reinforcement. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering.1999;272(1):108-116.
Akos Noel I, Mat Uzir Wahit & Abdirahman A Yussuf. Effect of fiber reinforcement on mechanical and thermal properties of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(Lactic Acid) blend composites. Fibers and Polymers.2014; 15(3):572-584.
Prasad GE, Gowda BK & Velmurugan R. 2017 Comparative study of impact strength characteristics of treated and untreated sisal polyester composites. Procedia Engineering.2017;173:778-785.
Ubi PA & Asipita SAR. Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment on the mechanical properties of crushed and uncrushed luffa cylindrica fibre reinforced rLDPE composites. International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering.2015;9;203-208.
Sullins T, Pillay S, Komus A & Ning H.Hemp fibre reinforced propylene composites: The effects of material treatments. Composites Part B: Engineering, 2017;114:15-22.
Cao Y, Shibata S & Fukumoto I.Mechanical properties of biodegradable composites reinforced with bagasse fibre before and after alkali treatments. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2006;37(3):423-429.
Mohd Suhairil Meon, Muhamad Fauzi Othman, Husain H, Muhammad Fairuz Remeli & Mohd Syahar Mohd Syawal. 2012 Improving tensile properties of kenad fibers treated with sodium hydroxide. Procedia Engineering.2012;41: 1587-1592.
Yousif B, Shalwan A, Chin C & Ming K. Flexural properties of treated and untreated kenaf/epoxy composites. Materials & Design. 2012; 40: 378-385.
Weyenberg IVd, Ivens J, Coster AD, Kino B, Baetens E & Verpoest I. Influence of processing and chemical treatment of flax fibres on their composites. Composites Science and Technology. 2003;63(9):1241-1246.
Gomes A, Matsuo T, Goda K & Ohgi J. Development and effect of alkali treatment on tensile properties of curaua fibre green composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing.2007;38(8):1811-1820.
Nor Azwin Ahad, Noraziana Parimin, Norsuria Mahmed, Ibrahim SS, Khairul Nizzam & Ho Y. 2009 Effect of chemical treatment on the surface of natural fibre. Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies.2009; 6; 155-158.
Vilay V, Mariatti M, Taib RM & Todo M. Effect of fibre surface treatment and fibre loading on the properties of bagasse fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Composites Science and Technology. 2008;68(3-4): 631-638.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
