Surface Modification of Sisal Fibers Using Cellulase and Microwave-Assisted Grafting: A Study of Morphology, Crystallinity, and Thermal Stability

Abstract

Surface modification of sisal fibers (Agave sisalana) using microwave-radiation-induced grafting and cellulase has been carried out in this paper. The modified fibers were characterized by various techniques to determine their morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability. It has also been found that microwave-radiation-assisted graft copolymerization results in enhanced thermal stability and has a diminutive effect on the crystalline structure of sisal fibers. Cellulase enzyme treatment also results in enhanced thermal stability with negligible change in percentage crystallinity.

Keywords:

• cellulase enzyme
• crystallinity
• microwave radiations
• morphology
• sisal
• thermal stability

Acknowledgments

The authors are highly thankful to Sisal Research Station (ICAR), Bamra, Dist. Sambalpur, Orrisa (India), for providing sisal fibers.