Effect of Eco-Friendly Chemical Treatment on the Properties of Sesbania Rostrata Fiber

ABSTRACT

Green material consciousness has enthused to introduce natural fiber alternative to man-made fiber as reinforcement in polymer composites. The presence of surface impurities and non-cellulosic component in the natural fibers are the major limitations to form effective polymer composite due to lack of interfacial bonding. This can be prevailed by various physical and chemical treatments. The present work reports the effect of chemical treatment on physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of Sesbania rostrata fibers (SRFs) by commercial sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), commonly known as ‘baking soda.’ The SRFs are treated with 10%w/w of NaHCO₃ for the different duration (1, 3 and 5 days) at room temperature. The treated fiber shows high and improved mechanical strength and cellulose fraction. The results of X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the crystallinity index and thermal stability are increased for the treated fiber. The significant removal of hemicellulose in the treated fiber is also observed from the FT-IR characteristic curve. The scanning electron microscopy images exposed the presence of rough surface on the treated fibers. Further, the comparison of treatment results showed that 3 days duration is the optimum period for treating the SRFs.

摘要

绿色材料意识在高分子复合材料中积极引入天然纤维替代人造纤维作为增强材料. 天然纤维中表面杂质和非纤维素组分的存在是形成有效聚合物复合材料的主要限制因素，其原因是缺乏界面结合. 这可以通过各种物理和化学处理来实现. 本文报道了商品碳酸氢钠（NaHCO3，俗称小苏打）对Sesbania rostrata纤维物理 (SRFs)、化学、力学和热性能的影响. 在室温下，用10%w/w的NaHCO3对SRFs进行不同时间（1、3和5天）的处理. 处理后的纤维具有较高的机械强度和纤维素含量. X射线衍射和热重分析结果表明，改性后的纤维结晶度指数和热稳定性都有所提高. 从FT-IR特性曲线也可以看出，处理后纤维中半纤维素的去除效果显著. 扫描电镜图像显示处理后的纤维表面有粗糙的表面. 结果表明，3天为治疗SRFs的最佳时间.

KEYWORDS:

• Sesbania rostrate
• eco-friendly chemical treatment
• sodium bicarbonate
• crystallinity Index
• tensile strength

关键词:

• 环保化学处理
• 碳酸氢钠
• 结晶度指数
• 抗拉强度

Acknowledgments

This research work is carryout by the support of DST – FIST (SR/FST/College – 235/2014), Government of India.