Affiliations: [a] Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India | [b] Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India | [c] Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Satish Shenoy B., Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India. Tel.: +91 984 423 2761; E-mail: satish.shenoy@manipal.edu.
Note: [1] Note: This article received a correction notice (Erratum) post publication with DOI 10.3233/JCM-209039, available at http://doi.org/10.3233/JCM-209039.
Abstract: Bamboo (Arundinaria clarkei) short fibers were treated with 6% conc. NaoH solution for five different durations viz. 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h and 24 h. Effect on physical properties like diameter and density were studied. Fibers were examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to study the effect of alkali treatment on its surface characteristics. Single fiber tensile tests were conducted to assess the tensile strength of the fibers. Comparative study of the SEM micrographs indicated removal of outer layer with the surface irregularities becoming more prominent with increasing duration. The fiber surface was scanned using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to quantify the increase in surface roughness with alkali treatment. Tests results showed positive effect on the strength till 6 h beyond which the tensile strength was observed to reduce. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results indicated reduction in content of holocellulose along with hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose which explains the variation in tensile strength with increasing duration of treatment.
