ABSTRACT

This study aimed at determining and comparing the mechanical properties of natural, mercerized, and cornified sisal fibers. Sisal fiber morphology was modified by mercerization using a 0.06 Molar sodium hydroxide solution and by a seven-hour, seven cycle cornification at 100°C. The fiber strength properties were then determined and analyzed using the Weibull Cumulative Density Function. Mercerized sisal fibers displayed the most significant improvement in tensile strength with mean fracture stress of 271 MPa, which showed a 68.30% increase in tensile strength compared to untreated sisal fiber’s 161.02 MPa. Cornified sisal fibers had a mean fracture stress value of 198.57 MPa, which was a 23.32% increase compared to untreated sisal fibers. Untreated sisal fibers had the highest Weibull Modulus of 7.616. Mercerized and cornified sisal fibers had Weibull Moduli of 6.175 and 4.723, respectively. These results show that although fiber surface treatment leads to a significant improvement of Kenyan sisal fiber strength properties, the delignification associated with mercerization and the collapse of the lamella structure that accompanies cornification either exacerbated existing flaws or introduced new flaws in the fibers.

摘要

本研究旨在确定和比较天然、丝光和角化剑麻纤维的机械性能。剑麻纤维形态通过使用 0.06 摩尔氢氧化钠溶液进行丝光处理和在 100°C 下进行 7 小时、7 次循环的角化来改性。然后使用 Weibull 累积密度函数确定和分析纤维强度特性。经丝光处理的剑麻纤维在抗拉强度方面表现出最显着的提高，平均断裂应力为 271 MPa，与未经处理的剑麻纤维的 161.02 MPa 相比，抗拉强度提高了 68.30%。角化剑麻纤维的平均断裂应力值为 198.57 MPa，与未经处理的剑麻纤维相比增加了 23.32%。未经处理的剑麻纤维的威布尔模量最高，为 7.616。丝光和角化剑麻纤维的威布尔模量分别为 6.175 和 4.723。这些结果表明，尽管纤维表面处理导致肯尼亚剑麻纤维强度性能的显着改善，但与丝光化相关的脱木素和伴随角质化的薄片结构的崩溃要么加剧了现有的缺陷，要么在纤维中引入了新的缺陷。