Modeling and Optimizing the Alkaline Treatment Process to Enhance the Date Palm Fibers’ Tensile Mechanical Properties Using RSM

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of date palm fibers (DPFs) by implementing a targeted treatment technique. The response surface methodology (RSM) is utilized for modeling and optimizing. The study seeks to identify the optimal Alkaline treatment settings for improving the mechanical properties of DPFs by carefully analyzing parameters such as average diameter, time, and NaOH concentration. The analytical results offer valuable insights into the possible use of DPFs in many engineering applications, contributing to the industrial advancement of sustainable and eco-friendly materials. The experimental findings are analyzed using a full-factorial design (43), incorporating analysis of variance and RSM. Combining RSM and desirability function is used to get the best mechanical properties, including stress, strain, and Young’s modulus. The model appropriateness is evaluated by analyzing residual values. The findings suggest that the sodium hydroxide concentration (%NaOH) has the most significant impact on strain (11.63%), stress (12%), and Young’s modulus (11.72%) besides the time t (h) also significantly influences 6.01%, 6.26%, and 5.79% strain, stress, and Young’s modulus, respectively.