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Thermal properties of modified banana trunk fibers

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Abstract

Thermal decomposition of an agrowaste, namely banana trunk fibers (BTF) were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) up to 900 °C at different heating rates (from 5 to 100 °C/min). The BTF was subjected to modification by means of various known chemical methods (mercerization, acetylation, peroxide treatment, esterification, and sulfuric acid treatment). Various degradation models, such as the Kissinger, Friedman, and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa were used to determine the apparent activation energy. The obtained apparent activation energy values (149–210 kJ/mol) allow in developing a simplified approach to understand the thermal decomposition behavior of natural fibers as a function of polymer composite processing.

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Acknowledgements

This study is partially funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) of Malaysia. The authors are also grateful to the School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University for providing the facilities to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Jalan Bedong-Semeling, 08100, Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

    Kathiresan Sathasivam

  2. School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia

    Mas Rosemal Hakim Mas Haris

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  1. Kathiresan Sathasivam
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  2. Mas Rosemal Hakim Mas Haris
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Correspondence to Kathiresan Sathasivam.

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Sathasivam, K., Haris, M.R.H.M. Thermal properties of modified banana trunk fibers. J Therm Anal Calorim 108, 9–17 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1793-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1793-1

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