Effects of alkali, mild steam, and chitosan treatments on the properties of pineapple, ramie, and sansevieria fiber bundles

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of treatments of alkali, mild steam, and chitosan on the surface morphology, fiber texture, and tensile properties of pineapple, ramie, and sansevieria fiber bundles. The fibers were treated with NaOH (2%), mild steam (0.1 MPa), and chitosan solutions (4% and 8%). The properties of these treated fibers were characterized and compared with the untreated fibers. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology of those fibers. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy was used to observe the fiber textures. Tensile properties of the treated and untreated fibers were also recorded. SEM micrographs showed that the surfaces of the NaOH-treated fibers were more damaged than those of the steam-treated fibers. The 4% chitosan solution covered the fiber surface more uniformly than the 8% chitosan solution. The steam-treated fibers had higher values of degree of crystallinity, crystallite orientation factor, and crystallite size than the NaOHtreated fibers. Ramie fiber showed greater mechanical properties than the other fibers. The values of tensile strength, Young's modulus, and toughness of the steamtreated fibers, which were similar to those of the 4% chitosan-coated fibers, were higher than those for the other treatments. © 2008 The Japan Wood Research Society.