Tensile properties of chemically treated hemp fibres as reinforcement for composites

Natural fibres, unlike synthetic fibres fabricated in-house, grow naturally. Their geometrical and physical properties are highly affected by environmental issues such as climate change. For instance, inconsistent cross-sectional areas and shapes along the length of a natural fibre can result from environmental changes. These irregularities in natural fibres affect the ultimate load that can be carried by these fibres in structural engineering applications. In this study, the tensile properties of single hemp fibres were measured by taking into account, the variations in fibre diameters. Alkali, acetyl and silane treatments of fibres were carried out to obtain a better surface finish. The treatment effects on the fibres with respect to tensile properties were discussed. The relationship between tensile properties of treated fibres and the variation of their diameters was also studied. It was found that the tensile strength of chemically-treated fibres was lower than that of untreated fibres. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.