Work

Influence of alkali treatment on mechanical and morphological properties of ananas comosus and saccharum officinarum fibers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The mechanical and morphological characteristics of Ananas comosus (pineapple leaf fiber, PLF) and Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane bagasse fiber, SBF), both obtained from post-harvest agricultural waste, were investigated in order to ascertain the optimal alkali treatment conditions for high-performance bio-composite reinforcement. Tensile testing, SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XRD studies were used to assess untreated and NaOH-treated fibers (4.9%–6.2%) using ASTM C1557-20 single-fiber testing techniques. Alkali treatment enhanced surface roughness, decreased fiber diameter, and eliminated surface contaminants. Diameter reduction is very concentration-dependent, with the most noticeable effects at 6% for PLF and 5.0%–5.4% for SBF, according to Dunn’s post hoc analysis. For PLF and SBF, the ideal tensile strength was attained at 5.7% and 5.8% NaOH, respectively. Improved crystallinity and the elimination of non-cellulosic components were verified by structural and chemical analyses. This study’s novel contribution is the identification of a narrow window of optimal NaOH concentration using fine 0.1% increments, which captures subtle morphological and mechanical transitions not previously reported. It also establishes a direct correlation between controlled surface modification and tensile performance for both fibers. These results show that carefully controlled alkali treatment can greatly enhance PLF’s and SBF’s reinforcing potential, offering a refined processing approach for upcoming bio-composite applications. This work contributes to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through the valorisation of agricultural waste fibres, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by enabling mechanically reliable bio-reinforcements, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by supporting renewable alternatives to synthetic fibres.

Source: Materials Research Express

DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ae3c61

Authors: Amoghavarsha, Jayashankar Babu B S, Lakshmi P S, Muralidhar N, Suresha B, Pavan Hiremath

Institutions: P.E.S. College of Engineering, Mandya, Visvesvaraya Technological University, JSS Science and Technology University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Language: English

Topic: Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,000