Effects of Treatment-Duration on Mechanical, Chemical, Structural and Thermal Properties of Baobab-Pod Fibres

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the surface of baobab pod fibers (BPFs) is treated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at various (0 min to 100 min at step size of 20 min) soaking time. The samples are labeled A, B, C, D, E and F. The effect of mercerization on the fibers is investigated via structural, morphological, mechanical, chemical and thermal analyses. The structural test reveals that sample E (80 min treated fiber) is the optimized BPF with percentage of crystallinity (%Cr) of 70.07%. The morphological test also indicates that sample E (80 min treated fiber) is the optimized fiber due to its roughened surface. Also, the chemical spectra show the presence of Na in the treated fibers and the intensity of Na increases as the soaking time increases. The maximum tensile stress and Young’s modulus of optimized BPF are 390 MPa and 5.94 GPa, respectively for sample E from mechanical analysis. The initial transition temperature range is from 231 to 248 ℃ and the final transition temperature range of 323 to 398 ℃ is obtained from thermal stability analysis. The thermal stability measurements indicate that treatment of BPFs for 80 min is the optimized duration and enhances the thermal stability of the BPFs.

摘要

本文采用氢氧化钠(NaOH)对猴面包荚纤维(BPF)的表面进行了不同浸泡时间的处理(0分钟到100分钟,步长为20分钟). 样品的标签为A、B、C、D、E和F. 通过结构、形态、机械、化学和热分析研究丝光对纤维的影响. 结构测试表明,样品E(经过80分钟处理的纤维)是结晶度百分比(%Cr)为70.07%的最佳BPF. 形态测试还表明,样品E(经过80分钟处理的纤维)因其表面粗糙而成为最佳纤维. 此外,化学光谱显示处理过的纤维中存在钠,且钠的强度随着浸泡时间的增加而增加. 对于力学分析中的样品E,优化BPF的最大拉伸应力和杨氏模量分别为390 MPa和5.94 GPa. 初始转变温度范围为231~248℃,最终转变温度范围为323~398℃. 热稳定性测试表明,BPFs处理80min是最佳时间并提高了BPFs的热稳定性.

KEYWORDS:

• Baobab pod fiber
• natural fiber
• sodium hydroxide treatment
• soaking time
• thermal stability
• tensile analysis

关键词:

• 猴面包荚纤维
• 天然纤维
• 氢氧化钠处理
• 浸泡时间
• 拉伸分析

Highlights

• Baobab Pod fibres (BPFs) were extracted mechanically.

• BPFs were treated using NaOH for 0 to 100 min at step size of 20 min and labeled A, B, C, D, E and F.

• Micro-structural, structural, mechanical and thermal analyses were carried out.

• Sample E was proven to be optimized at 80 min with maximum tensile stress and Young’s modulus of optimized BPFs corresponding to 390 MPa and 5.94 GPa, respectively.

• We optimized eco-friendly and abundant Baobab pod fibres via treatment-duration and discovered that it has effect on the performance of the fibres

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the following: Mr. Nura Adamu of Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Kaduna State, Engr. R. A. Jimoh and Engr. Wale both of Kwara State University, Malete for laboratory assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received was sponsored by TET Fund Institutional Based Research, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa StateTETFund Institutional Based Research, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria [TETF/DR&D/CE/UNIV/YOLA/IBR/2020/VOL.II]