Extraction, characterization and thermal degradation kinetics with activation energy of untreated and alkali treated Saccharum spontaneum (Kans grass) fiber

Abstract

The research article focuses on extraction, characterization, activation energy and thermal degradation kinetics of undervalued Saccharum spontaneum (Kans grass) fibers as a possible reinforcement material in polymer composites. The fibers were extracted from Saccharum spontaneum plant and treated with various concentrations of alkali that is 3 wt%, 5 wt% and 7 wt% to improve the properties. Untreated and alkali treated fibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Mechanical property tester and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG). Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Friedman methods were used to observe the decomposition activation energy and thermal kinetics of these fibers before and after treatment. The 5% alkali treated fibers exhibited maximum increase in average activation energy that is from 137 ± 3.1 kJ/mol to 194 ± 2.4 kJ/mol calculated from various methods as compared to untreated fibers. Similar improvements were observed in mechanical properties, crystallinity index, surface roughness and thermogravimetric analysis.