Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of the Tensile Strength of Single Natural Fibers

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Cellulose Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is a great interest in replacing synthetics with natural materials to minimize global climate change and environmental pollution. This study presents a simple yet effective method to extract natural fibers such as banana, sisal, and false banana plant fibers and their mechanical properties. An effective mechanical and chemical fiber treatment to improve the mechanical behavior of the fibers is presented. The quality of the fibers and the cross-sectional area of each fiber were examined using FTIR and a Zeta 20 optical 3D microscope. Compared with the untreated fibers, the proposed treatment improved the banana, sisal, and false banana fibers by 34.78%, 22.68%, and 3.08%, respectively. The ultimate tensile strength of the treated false banana fibers was higher than those of sisal and banana fibers by 13.05% and 14.08%, respectively, and the failure strain was higher by 40% and 16.66%, respectively. On the other hand, the linear density and tenacity of false banana were slightly lower than sisal fiber but marginally higher than banana fiber.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

References

  • International, A (2007). Standrd Test Method for Tensile Properties of Single Textile Fibers1, ASTM International.

  • Aravindh M, Sathish S, Ranga Raj R, Karthick A, Mohanavel V, Patil PP, Muhibbullah, M Osman SM (2022). A review on the effect of various chemical treatments on the mechanical properties of renewable fiber-reinforced composites. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022.

  • Batu T, Lemu HG (2020) Investigation of mechanical properties of false banana/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composite materials. Results in Materials 8:100152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elenga RG, Djemia P, Tingaud D, Chauveau T, Maniongui JG Dirras G (2013). Effects of Alkali Treatment on the Microstructure, Composition, and Properties of the Raffia textilis Fiber. BioResources, 8.

  • Elfaleh I, Abbassi F, Habibi M, Ahmad F, Guedri M, Nasri M, Garnier C (2023). A comprehensive review of natural fibers and their composites: an eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials. Results in Engineering 101271.

  • Hu W, Ton-That MT, Perrin-Sarazin F, Denault J (2010) An improved method for single fiber tensile test of natural fibers. Polymer Engineering & Science 50:819–825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huda MK, Widiastuti I (2021) Published. Natural fiber reinforced polymer in automotive application: a systematic literature review. Journal of physics: conference series, 2021. IOP Publishing, 012015.

  • Ilankeeran PK, Mohite PM, Kamle S (2012) Axial tensile testing of single fibres. Modern Mechanical Engineering 2:151–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inacio W, Lopes F, Monteiro S (2010) Diameter dependence of tensile strength by Weibull analysis: Part III sisal fiber. Matéria (rio De Janeiro) 15:124–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni ND, Saha A, Kumari P (2023) The development of a low-cost, sustainable bamboo-based flexible bio composite for impact sensing and mechanical energy harvesting applications. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 140:e54040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Saha A (2022). Utilization of coconut shell biomass residue to develop sustainable biocomposites and characterize the physical, mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery.

  • Kumar S, Saha A, Zindani D (2023). Agro-waste-based polymeric composite laminates for aerospace cabin interior and identification of their optimal configuration. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1–17.

  • Madhu P, Sanjay M, Jawaid M, Siengchin S, Khan A, Pruncu CI (2020) A new study on effect of various chemical treatments on Agave Americana fiber for composite reinforcement: Physico-chemical, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. Polymer Testing 85:106437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramachandran A, Mavinkere Rangappa S, Kushvaha V, Khan A, Seingchin S, Dhakal HN (2022) Modification of fibers and matrices in natural fiber reinforced polymer composites: A comprehensive review. Macromolecular rapid communications 43:2100862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rangappa SM, Siengchin S, Parameswaranpillai J, Jawaid M, Ozbakkaloglu T (2022) Lignocellulosic fiber reinforced composites: Progress, performance, properties, applications, and future perspectives. Polymer Composites 43:645–691

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy RA, Yoganandam K, Mohanavel V (2020) Effect of chemical treatment on natural fiber for use in fiber reinforced composites–Review. Materials Today: Proceedings 33:2996–2999

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romhany G, Karger-Kocsis J, Czigany T (2003) Tensile fracture and failure behavior of technical flax fibers. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 90:3638–3645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabri S, Fuadi Z, Kurniawan R, Rizal S, Homma H, Kosukegawa H, Takagi T, Miki H (2022) Tensile strength and fracture behavior of single abaca fiber. Journal of Natural Fibers 19:8796–8810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saha A, Kumari P (2023) Effect of alkaline treatment on physical, structural, mechanical and thermal properties of Bambusa tulda (Northeast Indian species) based sustainable green composites. Polymer Composites 44:2449–2473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saha A, Kumar S, Kumar A (2021a) Influence of pineapple leaf particulate on mechanical, thermal and biodegradation characteristics of pineapple leaf fiber reinforced polymer composite. Journal of Polymer Research 28:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha A, Kumar S, Zindani D (2021b) Investigation of the effect of water absorption on thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of flax-hemp-reinforced hybrid composite. Polymer Composites 42:4497–4516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saha A, Kulkarni ND, Kumar M, Kumari P (2023a). The structural, dielectric, and dynamic properties of NaOH-treated Bambusa tulda reinforced biocomposites—an experimental investigation. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 1–20.

  • Saha A, Kulkarni ND, Kumari P (2023b). Development of Bambusa tulda-reinforced different biopolymer matrix green composites and MCDM-based sustainable material selection for automobile applications. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–37.

  • Sanjay M, Madhu P, Jawaid M, Senthamaraikannan P, Senthil S, Pradeep S (2018) Characterization and properties of natural fiber polymer composites: A comprehensive review. Journal of Cleaner Production 172:566–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanjay M, Siengchin S, Parameswaranpillai J, Jawaid M, Pruncu CI, Khan A (2019) A comprehensive review of techniques for natural fibers as reinforcement in composites: Preparation, processing and characterization. Carbohydrate polymers 207:108–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sari NH, Wardana I, Irawan YS, Siswanto E (2017) The effect of sodium hydroxide on chemical and mechanical properties of corn husk fiber. Oriental Journal of Chemistry 33:3037–3042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sgriccia N, Hawley M, Misra M (2008) Characterization of natural fiber surfaces and natural fiber composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 39:1632–1637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomason J, Gentles F, Brennan A (2012) Published. Natural fibre cross sectional area effects on the determination of fibre mechanical properties. 15th European Conference on Composite Materials, 2012.

  • Vyas D, Chokshi S (2018) A Review on Effect of Fiber Treatment on Tensile Strength of Natural Fiber Composites. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research 5:4

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue H, Rubalcaba JC, Cui Y, Fernández-Blázquez JP, Yang C, Shuttleworth PS (2019) Determination of cross-sectional area of natural plant fibres and fibre failure analysis by in situ SEM observation during microtensile tests. Cellulose 26:4693–4706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Wang X, Pan N, Postle R (2002) Weibull analysis of the tensile behavior of fibers with geometrical irregularities. Journal of Materials Science 37:1401–1406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute for providing the materials used in this research. Part of the research was conducted during the summer when Addis Kidane traveled to Ethiopia as part of the Carnegie African Diaspora fellowship program. The program was funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and is acknowledged.

Funding

The authors of this article did not receive any financial support for their research, authorship, or publication. The Bio and Emerging Technology Institute provided the materials.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Endalkachew Gashawtena & Belete Sirahbizu

  2. Reverse Engineering Directorate, Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Endalkachew Gashawtena

  3. Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, USA

    Addis Kidane

Authors
  1. Endalkachew Gashawtena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Addis Kidane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Belete Sirahbizu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Endalkachew Gashawtena: Conceptualization, Run the experiment, Data analysis, Result interpretation Writing—original draft. Addis Kidane: Conceptualization, Supervision, Data analysis, Result interpretation, Writing—review & editing. Belete Sirahbizu: Supervision, Writing- review and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Endalkachew Gashawtena.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

No human or animal subject is involved in this study.

Consent to participate

All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to the Journal of Natural Fibers.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gashawtena, E., Kidane, A. & Sirahbizu, B. Comparison of the Tensile Strength of Single Natural Fibers. Cellulose (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-024-05878-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-024-05878-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation