Extraction and Characterization of Agave gigantea Fibers with Alkali Treatment as Reinforcement for Composites

ABSTRACT

The new natural fiber was extracted from Agave gigantea leaf as a reinforcement in an environmentally friendly composite material. In this study, the leaves were chemically extracted using alkali treatment with NaOH concentrations of 0%, 2.5%, and 5% to obtain cellulose fibers. The alkali treated fibers were measured using the standard ASTM procedure and observations were carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) characterization was conducted, and the crystallinity index and thermal stability of the fibers were tested. The results showed that there was an increase in cellulose content after the alkali treatment. Furthermore, the SEM observations indicated the presence of hemicellulose and ash within the natural raw fiber bundle, which later broke down into individual cellulose after alkalization. The FTIR characterization showed the removed aromatic group at wavenumber 1245 cm⁻¹ after alkali treatment. In addition, the crystallinity of the 5% NaOH alkali-treated fiber was 28% higher than that of the raw fiber. Finally, the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the superior thermal stability of the fiber was 345–363°C. From the results, it is evident that these novel fibers are suitable as reinforcement materials to prepare composites for various applications.

摘要

这种新的天然纤维是从龙舌兰叶中提取出来的, 作为一种环保复合材料的增强材料. 在这项研究中, 采用碱处理, NaOH浓度分别为0%, 2.5%和5%, 对叶片进行化学提取, 以获得纤维素纤维. 使用标准ASTM程序测量碱处理纤维, 并通过扫描电子显微镜 (SEM)进行观察, 进行傅立叶变换红外 (FTIR)表征, 测试纤维的结晶指数和热稳定性. 结果表明, 碱处理后纤维素含量增加. 此外, SEM观察表明, 天然粗纤维束中存在半纤维素和灰分, 这些纤维在碱化后分解为单独的纤维素. FTIR表征表明, 碱处理后在波数1245cm-1处去除了芳香基. 另外, 5%NaOH碱处理纤维的结晶度比原纤维高28%. 最后, 热重分析表明, 该纤维优异的热稳定性为345-363°C. 结果表明, 这些新型纤维适合作为增强材料制备各种用途的复合材料.

KEYWORDS:

• Agave gigantae
• alkalization
• chemical composition
• crystallinity
• thermal stability

Keywords:

• 关键词
• Gigantae
• 巨龙舌兰
• Alkalization
• 碱化
• Chemical composition
• 化学成分
• Crystallinity
• 结晶度
• Thermal stability
• 热稳定性

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Aflizar Colleagues from the Department of Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Polytechnic, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, Indonesia, for their assistance and contributions toward the successful completion of this research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (DIPA 2020 and PDUPT grant number: 102/E4.1/AK.PT/2021).