Effect of surface treatments on the thermal behavior and tensile strength of piassava (Attalea funifera) fibers |
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Authors: | A L F S d'Almeida J R M d'Almeida D W Barreto V Calado |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Chemistry, Universidade Federal o Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco E, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 21949‐900;2. Materials Science and Metallurgy Department, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de S?o Vicente, 225 Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 22453‐900 |
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Abstract: | Piassava (Attalea funifera) fibers subjected to several surface chemical treatments and as‐received raw fibers were compared with respect to their thermal and tensile behaviors. The thermal degradation of the raw fibers was characterized by three main stages that corresponded to water release at low temperatures, decomposition of hemicellulose, and decomposition of α cellulose. Mercerization acted mainly on hemicellulose removal, and there was no change in the hydrophilic behavior of the fibers. The removal of hemicellulose split the fibers into microfibrils and favored the thermal decomposition of α cellulose. The same behavior was observed when the fibers were subjected to mercerization and acetylation. The fibers subjected to only acetylation showed thermal behavior similar to that of the raw fibers. With the acetylation treatment, a minor decrease in the hydrophilic character of the fibers was noted. Despite some differences in the thermal behavior, the tensile strengths of the raw and treated fibers were statistically equal. Complementary Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy analysis corroborated the thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry results. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011 |
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Keywords: | fibers FTIR strength thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) |
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