Impact of Chemical Treatments on the Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characteristics of Sisal (Agave sisalana)

Сажетак

Natural fibres are used in many technical components to produce cars, aircraft, home appliances, and packaging. This study aims to evaluate the impact of chemical treatment on the fibre surface characteristics of sisal fibre. Plantain fibres were treated with an alkaline reagent and characterized using a Zeiss Gemini Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The fibre surface morphology and  crystallinity indices between treated and untreated fibres were compared. The results showed that the cellulose content of treated fibre decreased by 14.26 and 18.62%, respectively, indicating partial removal of these components. In contrast, 17.54 and 21.82% of lignin, hemicellulose, and ash were present in the untreated and treated fibres, respectively. Moreover, treated fibre has the highest cellulose percentage of any treated fibre, at 56.25 per cent. As a result, the fibre and the manufacturing techniques are appropriate for the development of green materials for composites.