Physical and mechanical properties of pineapple fibers (leaves, stems and roots) from awae Cameroon for the improvement of composite materials

Abstract

Natural fibres are likely to replace conventional mechanical reinforcements in composite materials. Among these fibres, pineapple leaves have been the subject of several studies, unlike the other parts of this plant, namely the stems and roots, which nevertheless represent a potential to be exploited, hence our interest in the subject. In this work, the aim is to characterize physically, mechanically and chemically the fibres from pineapple leaves, stems and roots for possible use in composite materials. After extraction of the various fibres by beaten, scraping and retting, physical tests (water absorption and density test) revealed that the water absorption rate and density increase from the roots to the leaves. Then, mechanical tests through mechanical strength and Young's modulus allowed us to observe that fibres from roots perform better than those from leaves and stems. Finally, chemical tests allowed us to have the composition of each fibre after extraction by water retting (cellulose, Hemicellulose, Lignin, Pectin and ashes).