Influence of alkaline treatment on sisal fibre applied as reinforcement agent in composites of corn starch and cellulose acetate matrices

This study show influence of alkaline treatment on sisal fiber (SF) in different composites of starch matrices (SM) and cellulose acetate matrices (CAM). SF were modified with an aqueous 0.5M NaOH solution. Composites were prepared in proportion of 3% fiber/matrix (m/m) using casting method. The samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy by Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis (DMA). Through results obtained in FTIR and TGA, it was possible to verify that alkaline treatment partially removed hemicellulose and SF lignin. With SEM, best fiber/matrix adhesion in composites prepared with modified fiber (TSF) has been proven to change fibre morphology. Through DMA analysis it was possible to observe that after addition of SF and TSF, SM composites showed improvements in mechanical properties, while TGA showed an increase in initial temperature of thermal degradation in CAM composites with addition of fiber.

Automated summary

This study investigated the influence of alkaline treatment on sisal fiber in different types of composites, showing that the treatment partially removed hemicellulose and lignin from the fiber. The SEM analysis revealed improved fiber/matrix adhesion in composites using modified fiber, while DMA analysis indicated enhancements in mechanical properties with the addition of sisal fiber. Additionally, TGA results showed an increased initial temperature of thermal degradation in cellulose acetate matrix composites with fiber addition.