Influence of Chemical Treatments on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Furcraea Foetida Fiber for Polymer Reinforcement Applications

The usage of natural fibers is regarded as the most viable solution for controlling the consumption of synthetic materials. However, the low moisture resistance, stiffness and poor adhesion capabilities restrict their use in several advanced composite applications. Hence, different surface treatments are employed to improve the physical characteristics of natural materials. In this study, the effect of chemical treatments (sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, potassium permanganate and bromodecane) on the surface characteristics and the adhesion capabilities of Furcraea foetida (FF) fiber with epoxy material is evaluated. From the study, it is seen that the chemical treatment (CT) eliminates the O-H functional groups and enhances the hydrophobic characteristics in FF fiber. Furthermore, the CT removes the amorphous organic attachments and improves the crystallinity in the fiber. However, no substantial increase in the thermal stability of FF fiber was observed post chemical treatment. The microscopic analysis of chemically treated FF (CTFF) fiber shows the elimination of organic attachments and developed neat uniform surface structure. The NaOH-treated FF fiber exhibited maximum tensile strength (σ_t: 241.75 MPa). Whereas the acetic acid-treated FF fiber showed maximum tensile modulus (σ_m: 6.9 GPa) and interfacial shear strength (IFSS: 0.06 MPa) compared to CTFF and untreated FF fiber (UTFF).