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Effects of Surface Treatments on Tensile, Thermal and Fibre-matrix Bond Strength of Coir and Pineapple Leaf Fibres with Poly Lactic Acid

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Abstract

Coir Fibres (CF) and Pineapple Leaf Fibres (PALF) are valuable natural fibres which are abundantly available in Malaysia as agricultural wastes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alkali (6%), silane (2%), and calcium hydroxide (6%) on tensile, morphological, thermal, and structural properties of CF and PALF to improve their interfacial bonding with Polylactic Acid (PLA) matrix. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to observe the effectiveness of the chemical treatments in the removal of impurities. Alkali treated fibres yield the lowest fibre diameter and the highest Interfacial Stress Strength (IFSS). Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) shows improved thermal stability in silane treated CF and alkali treated PALF. It is assumed that fibre treatments can help to develop biodegradable CF and PALF reinforced PLA biocomposites for industrial applications.

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Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia) for financial support (CSFP-2015) of the first author’s PhD study. The authors are also grateful to UPM for providing Putra grant GP-IPS /2017/9520200.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Higher Institution Centre of Excellence Wood and Tropical Fibre (HiCoE), Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia

    Ramengmawii Siakeng, Mohammad Jawaid & Hidayah Ariffin

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Jawaid

  3. Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia

    Hidayah Ariffin

  4. Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia

    Mohd Sapuan Salit

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  1. Ramengmawii Siakeng
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  2. Mohammad Jawaid
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  4. Mohd Sapuan Salit
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Correspondence to Mohammad Jawaid.

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Siakeng, R., Jawaid, M., Ariffin, H. et al. Effects of Surface Treatments on Tensile, Thermal and Fibre-matrix Bond Strength of Coir and Pineapple Leaf Fibres with Poly Lactic Acid. J Bionic Eng 15, 1035–1046 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-018-0091-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-018-0091-z

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