An analysis of ramie fiber (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) treated with low temperature plasma using a mathematical model

Figures & data

Figure 1. The experimental design and instruments in this research: (a) design of plasma generator and (b) corona plasma apparatus.

Figure 2. This research’s material and plasma treatment: (a) ramie fibers and (b) plasma treatment process.

Figure 3. FT-IR spectra of untreated and treated ramie fibers.

Table 1. Summary of observed FT-IR absorption peaks for ramie fiber with associated chemical components.

Peak wavenumber $\left({\mathrm{\text{cm}}}^{-1}\right)$	Relative bonding	Associated chemical component
3408	O–H stretching	Cellulose
2900	C–H stretching	Cellulose and hemicelluloses
2135	C–O–C stretching	$\mathrm{\beta }$-glucoside linkage
1722	C=O stretching	Cellulose and hemicelluloses
1641	O–H bending	Hydroxyl and cellulose
1510	C=C stretching	Lignin
1429	C–H deformation	Lignin
1319	O–H deformation	Lignin
1112	C–O stretching	Cellulose and lignin
667	C–OH bending	Lignin

Figure 4. SEM images comparison: (a) untreated and (b) plasma-treated fiber.

Figure 5. Three-dimensional SEM image processing: (a) untreated ramie fiber and (b) the plasma-treated ramie fiber.

Figure 6. Histogram of the pixel intensity comparison from SEM image: (a) untreated fiber and (b) plasma-treated fiber.

Table 2. Summary of the statistical value of SEM images analysis.

Statistical variable	Untreated (pixels)	Plasma-treated (pixels)
Mean value $\left(\overline{\mathrm{x}}\right)$	82.1597	55.1777
Coefficient of variation $\left(\text{CV\%}\right)$	0.6940	0.7211

Figure 7. The scheme of one tip electrode of the corona plasma treatment.