Thermal properties of Napier grass fibers

The effect of alkali-treatment on the thermal degradation, tensile properties and surface changes of Napier grass fibers was investigated in this work. These fibers were extracted from Napier grass internodes. Some fibers were mercerized with sodium hydroxide solution (2% and 5% W/V). The thermal stability, tensile properties and crystallinity of the fibers were found to increase on alkali-treatment. The morphology of the fibers before and after alkali-treatment was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that 5% alkali-treated Napier grass fibers were suitable candidates as reinforcement in green composites. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.