Alkaline surface modification of sugar cane bagasse

Abstract

One of the most important issues in producing composite materials is fibre sizing, due to the usual incompatibility between the fibres and the matrix. In the present work, the evaluation of an alkaline surface treatment of sugar cane bagasse fibres through Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), X-ray microanalysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) is reported. The results show that the treatment with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] chemically modifies the surface of the bagasse fibre producing a calcium carbonate deposit on the surfaces, whereas sodium hydroxide [NaOH] has little or no effect. The main action of NaOH on the fibre is to remove the lignin binder of the cellulosic material.

Keywords:

• Sugar cane bagasse
• surface studies
• alkaline treatment
• cellulosic materials
• fibre sizing