The Effect of Alkali Treatment on Chemical and Physical Properties of Ichu and Cabuya Fibers

ABSTRACT

Ichu and Cabuya were characterized and the effect of alkali treatment on the chemical and physical properties of these fibers was studied. This treatment was carried out to remove non-cellulosic components in order to improve the adhesion of these fibers to be used as reinforcing composites since they are currently being tested in polymer matrix composites. The chemical properties were investigated through TAPPI Standards and FTIR spectroscopy. The physical properties (microfibrillar angle and density) were analyzed through polarized light microscopy and a gas pycnometer, respectively. The results show that with this chemical treatment, it is possible to remove 53.9% of lignin and 22.7% of hemicellulose for Ichu fiber and 50.7% and 91.7%, respectively, for Cabuya. Besides, it was found that the microfibrillar angle is not affected by this chemical treatment since its effect is only superficial. In addition, SEM images show that Ichu fiber has amorphous silica particles in its surface, in which it becomes a potential fiber for cement composites.

摘要

对Ichu和Cabuya纤维进行了表征，研究了碱处理对纤维物理化学性能的影响. 为了改善这些纤维作为增强复合材料的粘附性，进行了这种处理，因为它们目前在聚合物基复合材料中被测试。通过TAPPI标准和FTIR光谱对其化学性质进行了研究. 分别用偏振光显微镜和气体比重瓶对其物理性能（微纤丝角和密度）进行了分析. 结果表明，采用该化学处理方法，Ichu纤维的木质素去除率为53.9%，半纤维素去除率为22.7%，Cabuya纤维的木质素去除率为50.7%，半纤维素去除率为91.7%. 此外，发现微纤丝角不受化学处理的影响，因为它的影响只是表面的. 此外，SEM图像表明，Ichu纤维在其表面具有非晶二氧化硅颗粒，成为水泥基复合材料的潜在纤维.

KEYWORDS:

• Alkali treatment
• Cabuya
• Ichu
• microfibrilar angle
• natural fibers
• TAPPI

关键词:

• 碱处理
• 微纤丝角
• 天然纤维

Acknowledgments

The authors also acknowledge The University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) and The University of Sao Paulo (USP) for allowing to use the equipment and laboratories required.

Additional information

Funding

The authors were supported by grants offered by FONDECYT (Grant n° 117- 2016).