Mercerisation Lab Report
Experimental Investigation and Analysis of Mercerized and Citric Acid Surface Treated Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Composite
Abstract: Mercerization or NaOH fiber surface treatment is one of the most popular surface treatment processes to make the natural fibers such as bamboo fibers compatible for use as reinforcing material in composites. But NaOH being a chemical is hazardous and polluting to the nature. This paper explores the possibility of use of naturally derived citric acid for bamboo fiber surface treatment and its comparison with NaOH treated Bamboo Fiber Composites. Untreated, 2.5 wt% NaOH treated and 5 wt% citric acid treated Bamboo Fiber Composites with 5 wt% fiber content were developed by Hand Lay process. Bamboo mats made of bamboo slivers were used as reinforcing material. Mechanical and physical characterization was done to compare the effects of NaOH and citric acid bamboo fiber surface treatment on mechanical and physical properties of Bamboo Fiber Composite. The experiment data reveals that the tensile …show more content…
Five specimens of 50 x 13 x 3.5 ± 0.2 mm were prepared and weighed to the nearest 0.001g with electronic weighing machine having a least count of 0.001g. Each specimen was completely immersed in distilled water at 25°C.
c) Scanning Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope (Model: JEOL) was used to observe the fiber-matric interface of cross section of the tensile test specimens and evaluate the fracture behavior to correlate it with the tensile strength. The specimens being non-metallic, to enhance the conductivity, the specimens were coated with palladium using a sputter coater for 60 seconds at a current of 20 mA using Auto Fine Coater (Model: JEOL JFC – 1600). We can obtain clear images at higher magnification when compared to optical microscopes.
III. RESULT AND
Abstract: Mercerization or NaOH fiber surface treatment is one of the most popular surface treatment processes to make the natural fibers such as bamboo fibers compatible for use as reinforcing material in composites. But NaOH being a chemical is hazardous and polluting to the nature. This paper explores the possibility of use of naturally derived citric acid for bamboo fiber surface treatment and its comparison with NaOH treated Bamboo Fiber Composites. Untreated, 2.5 wt% NaOH treated and 5 wt% citric acid treated Bamboo Fiber Composites with 5 wt% fiber content were developed by Hand Lay process. Bamboo mats made of bamboo slivers were used as reinforcing material. Mechanical and physical characterization was done to compare the effects of NaOH and citric acid bamboo fiber surface treatment on mechanical and physical properties of Bamboo Fiber Composite. The experiment data reveals that the tensile …show more content…
Five specimens of 50 x 13 x 3.5 ± 0.2 mm were prepared and weighed to the nearest 0.001g with electronic weighing machine having a least count of 0.001g. Each specimen was completely immersed in distilled water at 25°C.
c) Scanning Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope (Model: JEOL) was used to observe the fiber-matric interface of cross section of the tensile test specimens and evaluate the fracture behavior to correlate it with the tensile strength. The specimens being non-metallic, to enhance the conductivity, the specimens were coated with palladium using a sputter coater for 60 seconds at a current of 20 mA using Auto Fine Coater (Model: JEOL JFC – 1600). We can obtain clear images at higher magnification when compared to optical microscopes.
III. RESULT AND