article · International Journal of Polymer Analysis and Characterization
Fibre strands extracted from Napier grass, a renewable biomass source, undergo physical, chemical, tensile, and thermal enhancements when subjected to alkali treatment. Treating the grass fibres with sodium hydroxide solutions at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 percent for two hours alters their functional groups, surface morphology, and chemical composition. Untreated strands display lower cellulose content, reduced crystallinity, poorer tensile performance, and weaker thermal stability compared to treated strands. Among the tested concentrations, a 10 percent sodium hydroxide solution achieves the optimal mechanical performance. This concentration enhances tensile strength by 51.9 percent, tensile modulus by 47.3 percent, and percentage elongation by 12.1 percent. These improved characteristics suggest that alkali-treated Napier grass fibres are suitable candidates for reinforcement materials in natural fibre composites.
Finding renewable alternatives to synthetic fibres requires plant materials with robust mechanical and thermal qualities. Napier grass is a widely available biomass that can be significantly upgraded through a straightforward chemical treatment. By enhancing strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, this process demonstrates how agricultural resources can be tailored for higher-value engineering uses, supporting the broader development of sustainable composite materials.
The work points to the use of treated Napier grass as a reinforcing agent in natural fibre composite manufacturing. Potential users include composite material developers and polymer manufacturers seeking plant-based structural components. The findings represent early-stage materials characterisation, establishing optimal treatment concentrations and baseline mechanical properties in a laboratory setting prior to composite fabrication or product testing.
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This article presents the extraction and effect of alkali treatment on the physical, chemical, tensile, and thermal characteristics of fiber strands obtained from Napier grass, a renewable biomass. In order to improve these properties, the Napier grass fiber strands were treated with sodium hydroxide. The alkali treatment was carried out using NaOH solution at three different concentrations (5, 10, and 15%) for 2 h. Characterization of untreated and alkali-treated Napier grass fiber strands was carried out by studying the chemical composition, surface morphology, functional group variation, crystallinity, and tensile and thermal behavior. It was found that untreated fiber strands have lower cellulose content, crystallinity, tensile properties, and thermal stability than alkali-treated fiber strands. Napier grass fiber strands treated with 10% NaOH showed optimum tensile strength, modulus, and percentage elongation with an improvement of 51.9, 47.3, and 12.1% respectively. Based on the properties determined for alkali-treated Napier grass fiber strands, we expect that these fibers will be suitable for use as a reinforcement in natural fiber composites.
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DOI: 10.1080/1023666x.2013.784935
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