The natural fiber have recently become attractive and been widely used as reinforcement material to replace synthetic fiber as a concern to environmental issue. However, there are some of natural fiber unable to perform well as reinforcement material due to their natural properties. In this research study, the corn stalk fiber was selected as natural fiber reinforced with polybutadiene adipate terephalate (PBAT) to form bio-composite materials. There are two type of PBAT used which are in pellets form and powder form. The objectives of using different type of PBAT are to identify their compatibility with filler and the dispersion of corn stalk fiber in both forms of matrix. Then, the both type of PBAT also compounded with difference loadings of corn stalk fiber. Lastly, their effect on tensile properties and absorption ability were identified. After the test is run, the composite of neat PBAT in powder form shows highest tensile strength and elongation at break but lowest in water absorption percentage compared to others. However, the composition of pellets PBAT with 30wt% of corn stalk fiber shows highest percentage of water absorption compared to others.
Natural fiber like corn stalk fiber nowadays can be used to replace synthetic fiber. However, their natural properties may influence their performance which making hem limited to use. In this research study, variety types of chemical treatment which economical technique was used to modified the physical and chemical properties of corn stalk fiber. After the treatment process, the surface morphology and water absorption ability of the fiber was examined. There was an improvement on surface morphological by making them clean and rough compared to untreated corn stalk fiber. The hydrophobicity of corn stalk fiber also increased after treatment. As we can see, H2SO4-treated fiber has lowest water absorption ability compared to others. By removing the unnecessarily element on the fiber which comparable with synthetic fiber may increase their potential to become first choice as reinforcement materials in composite industries later.
The natural fibers from trees, agricultural waste, fruit skins and others will be considered as recyclable and recently have been used widely as filler materials in polymer composites. As an alternative, natural fibers have become the attention of researchers to substituate the commercial, synthetic and costly fibers. Therefore, this study has used 6 types of natural fibers from local fruit waste in Malaysia, and investigate the ability of each of them to absorb oil and water. All natural fiber showed different absorption percentage within the testing period. The natural fiber which more hydrophilic goes to coconut shell, againts peanuts as the lowest in absorbing water. Meanwhile, coconut residue capable to absorb more oil than coconut shell which showed oleophobic behaviour. The cellulose content, the hollow or pores and also the types of natural fiber are the factors that affect the percentage of oil and water uptake.
Natural cellulose from agricultural waste, fruit skin, stalks, and so on is considered as recyclable and may have some potential as oil and water absorbent. Besides it is readily available and environmentally friendly it also inexpensive because they are waste, non-toxic and biodegradable. However, the natural fibres are hydrophilic in nature, so it tends to absorb water. Chemical treatments can usually overcome this problem. Usually, acid and alkali treatments are very popular among researchers. In this study, we focused on seeing the differences in natural treatment on acidic and alkaline using citric acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (soda) of certain three types of selected fibres. The 24 hrs treatments were studied on coconut coir, banana stem fiber and sugarcane bagasse. The tensile strength has been investigated and compared. All fibers were observed highest tensile strength after treated with alkali compared to acid. Treatment with alkali is more suitable for natural fiber in order to clean the fiber surface, thus help to get better fiber-matrix interaction. These are the reason of highest in tensile strength. Overall, the absorption of oil and seawater depends on the type of fibre itself. All treated fibers tend to absorb more seawater and alkaline treated fibers absorbed more cooking oil. Treated coconut coir have tendency to absorb both medium than other fibers. The type of treatments, will give an effect on the fibres’ surface, remove the impurities and reduce the hydrophilic properties, so that provide decreasing or increasing of cooking oil and seawater uptake.
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