Evaluation of mechanical and structural properties on the degradation of treated and untreated coir, jute and kenaf nettings

Abstract

Most of the soils in Malaysia are arid and infertile due to lack of buffering capacity and low clay activities that resulted in soil acidity. Moreover, high intensity rainfall and extreme conditions of slopes such as transient drought and lack of nutrients have reduced the survival and growth of potential plants. The use of vegetation and their relationship with microbes have great potential to alleviate soil acidity and erosion problems. The application of natural fibers in the construction industry was highly used as an additional or alternative source to be used in composites for increasing its strength properties. Natural fibers can innovative solutions to solve difficult problems, economically, enables the use of local materials means that natural fibers can be sustainable solutions. This paper consists of the technical results on the testing conducted to determine the strength of coir, jute and kenaf fibers. The objectives of this re-search are to manifest the effectiveness of new treatment on natural fibers netting to reduce degradability of the natural fiber netting to be used in acidic soils in Malaysia, to pick out the best chemical treatment for natural fibers to select the best natural fibers for rainfall area. The fibers have been treated by Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Calcium Chloride (CaCl2). Six natural fiber nets have been provided with the size of each net is 500mm x 500mm (50cm x 50cm) and the spacing between the lines of the net is 17.5mm (1.75cm). Three nets are treated and the others are not treated. The nets have been placed on a slope at the site for 30 days and 60 days. The lab test that has been conducted is more focused on the strength properties of the coir, jute and kenaf fibers in terms of Tensile Strength. It has been found that treated fiber showed better performance than untreated fibers. The strength of fibers has been decreased respectively from 1st day on site to 60th day affected by climate changes.