Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites
The use of coconut leaf stalk fibers in composites has rarely been investigated. This study focuses on the use of Malayan Dwarf coconut leaf stalk fibers as reinforcement in a polyester matrix. After extracting the fibers, the optimum concentration of sodium hydroxide for their mercerization was det...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Natural Fibers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2023.2198276 |
| _version_ | 1797674668530860032 |
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| author | B.Y.R. Surnam G. Imrith |
| author_facet | B.Y.R. Surnam G. Imrith |
| author_sort | B.Y.R. Surnam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of coconut leaf stalk fibers in composites has rarely been investigated. This study focuses on the use of Malayan Dwarf coconut leaf stalk fibers as reinforcement in a polyester matrix. After extracting the fibers, the optimum concentration of sodium hydroxide for their mercerization was determined. This was, firstly, done through tensile, contact angle, FTIR, and SEM tests. They were supplemented by preliminary tensile tests which were performed on composites, with 0.5% fiber content (by weight). The selection of the optimum mercerization process led to the production of the composites for further investigations. Two types of plain weave arrangement (single layer and multiple layers) of the fiber reinforcements were considered, with increasing fiber loading. For the mercerization process, 5% sodium hydroxide treatment was found to produce composites with better mechanical properties. The composite, with the single layer arrangement and 1.5% fiber loading, was found to have the highest tensile (46 MPa) and flexural (149 MPa) strength. Two-way ANOVA was used to confirm that the means of the strengths, of the various types of composites tested were not the same. The results of this study are expected to lead to a more sustainable use of waste coconut leaves. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:02:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0259759808b3448e8c7c64b510cc0fd7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1544-0478 1544-046X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:02:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Natural Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-0259759808b3448e8c7c64b510cc0fd72023-09-25T10:29:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Natural Fibers1544-04781544-046X2023-08-0120210.1080/15440478.2023.21982762198276Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced CompositesB.Y.R. Surnam0G. Imrith1University of MauritiusUniversity of MauritiusThe use of coconut leaf stalk fibers in composites has rarely been investigated. This study focuses on the use of Malayan Dwarf coconut leaf stalk fibers as reinforcement in a polyester matrix. After extracting the fibers, the optimum concentration of sodium hydroxide for their mercerization was determined. This was, firstly, done through tensile, contact angle, FTIR, and SEM tests. They were supplemented by preliminary tensile tests which were performed on composites, with 0.5% fiber content (by weight). The selection of the optimum mercerization process led to the production of the composites for further investigations. Two types of plain weave arrangement (single layer and multiple layers) of the fiber reinforcements were considered, with increasing fiber loading. For the mercerization process, 5% sodium hydroxide treatment was found to produce composites with better mechanical properties. The composite, with the single layer arrangement and 1.5% fiber loading, was found to have the highest tensile (46 MPa) and flexural (149 MPa) strength. Two-way ANOVA was used to confirm that the means of the strengths, of the various types of composites tested were not the same. The results of this study are expected to lead to a more sustainable use of waste coconut leaves.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2023.2198276weave arrangementmercerizationtensile strengthflexural strengthcontact angle |
| spellingShingle | B.Y.R. Surnam G. Imrith Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites Journal of Natural Fibers weave arrangement mercerization tensile strength flexural strength contact angle |
| title | Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites |
| title_full | Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites |
| title_fullStr | Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites |
| title_short | Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Leaf Stalk Fibres Reinforced Composites |
| title_sort | investigation on the mechanical properties of coconut leaf stalk fibres reinforced composites |
| topic | weave arrangement mercerization tensile strength flexural strength contact angle |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2023.2198276 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT byrsurnam investigationonthemechanicalpropertiesofcoconutleafstalkfibresreinforcedcomposites AT gimrith investigationonthemechanicalpropertiesofcoconutleafstalkfibresreinforcedcomposites |