Tensile testing of cellulose based natural fibers for structural composite applications

A series of tensile tests were conducted on a Lloyd LRX tensile testing machine for numerous natural fibers deemed potential candidates for development in composite applications. The tensile tests were conducted on the fibers jute, kenaf, flax, abaca, sisal, hemp, and coir for samples exposed to moisture conditions of (1) room temperature and humidity, (2) 65% moisture content, (3) 90% moisture content, and (4) soaked fiber. These seven fibers were then tested for the four conditions and the mechanical properties of tensile strength, tensile strain to failure, and Young's modulus were calculated for the results. These results were then compared and verified with those from the literature, with some of the fibers showing distinctly promising potential. Additionally, a study on the effect of alkalization using 3% NaOH solution was carried out on flax, kenaf, abaca, and sisal to observe impact that this common fiber pre-treatment process has on fiber mechanical properties. The result of the investigation indicated that over treatment of natural fibers using NaOH could have a negative effect on the base fiber properties. It is consequently apparent that a treatment time of less than 10 min is sufficient to remove hemicelluloses and to give the optimum effect

Perbaikan Ketahanan Abaka Terhadap Fusarium Dan Prospek Pengembangannya

Improvement of Abaca Resistance to Fusarium and its Development ProspectGenetic improvement of abaca clones through hybridization is relatively difficult due to the narrow genetic variability of this crop. The narrow genetic variability of abaca caused by its propagated vegetatively. Alternatively, genetic improvement of abaca could be conducted by mutation and somaclonal variation inductions through in vitro culture. To identify mutants or variants with certain superior character, it is necessary continued with in vitro selection. Mutation of abaca which was conducted using chemical mutagen Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) followed by in vitro selection has resulted in resistant variants to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense (Foc). Cultivation of the abaca variants resistant to Foc will decrease total production cost and of crease farmers' profit in abaca agribusiness in Indonesia

Foreign Investments in Philippine Agriculture

This article measures the amount of foreign participation, direct and indirecin Philippine agriculture. However, due to insufficient time and inadequate data, its aim has been reduced to aid further research on the effects of foreign participation in Philippine agriculture.agriculture sector, investment

Vacuum infusion of natural fibre composites for structural applications

Numerous methods of manufacturing natural fibre composites have been reported in the literature, including compression moudling, often in conjunction with a hot press. Other forms of composite manufacture include 'Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding' (VATRM) and the 'Seemann Composite Resin Infusion Moulding Process' (SCRIMP). These methods have been reported to produce natural fibre composies with reasonable mechanical properties [1-2]. In this paper, a vacuum infusion rig is described that has been developed to produce consistent quality composite plates for studies into optimising natural fibre composites. The process aims to harness the benefits of vacuum infusion and compression moulding, where vacuum infusion encourages the removal of trapped air in the system and hence avoid reduction, and additional compression moulding can help to achieve high volume fractions that are otherwise difficult in other processes

Towards Improving the Export Price Index

This paper examines the methodology for computing the export price index used by the National Census and Statistics Office, evaluates this methodology and the problems arising from its use, discusses an alternative methodology and proposes the adoption of the revised methodology to make the present index series more relevant.export commodities, price index

Keragaman Genetika Varian Abaka Yang Diinduksi Dengan Ethylmethane Sulphonate (Ems)

Genetic Variability of Abaca Variants Induced byEthylmethane Sulphonate (EMS)In vitro mutation with mutagen treatment can be used to increasethe genetic variability of abaca by inducing somaclonal variation. Theobjectives of the experiments were to (1) determine optimum concen-tration of EMS to induce abaca somaclonal variation, (2) produce abacalines from EMS treated embryogenic calli and evaluate their performancein the field, and (3) evaluate type and frequency of qualitative andquantitative variant characters among regenerated abaca lines. Thisexperiment was conducted in Tissue Culture Laboratory and KarangplosoExperiment Station of Indonesian Tobacco and Fibre Crops ResearchInstitute (ItoFCRI) Malang from August 2003 to August 2006. The resultsshowed that EMS treatment on abaca embryogenic calli induced variation,and the optimum EMS concentration was 0.6%. The variants exhibited anumber of abnormal qualitative and quantitative characters which weregenerally negative characters since they showed lower value as comparedto control population. The presence of different types of qualitative andquantitative variant characters was genotype dependent. Variants fromabaca clone Tangongon having the highest fibre yield (161.0 g and 154.0g/plant) were obtained from 0.3% EMS treatment (T1 28.1.1 and T1 11.2.2variants). While variants from abaca clone Sangihe-1 having the highestfibre yield (35.0 g and 40.0 g/plant) were obtained from 0.6% EMStreatment (S4 28.1.0 and S4 56.2.0 variants). The fibre yield of controlclones, Tangongon and Sangihe-1, were 193.0 g and 70 g/plant,respectively

Integrating abaca in a mixed forest culture: A livelihood option for smallholder tree farmers

This paper discuses the economic and ecological benefits of integrating abaca in established monoculture fruit trees and mixed forest culture, especially rainforestation farming. Integration of agricultural crops with high tolerance to shade, that will provide additional income to farmers and preserve the environment, is one of the key elements of a sustainable tree farming system. Inclusion of natural fibre plants such as abaca, a natural shade-loving plant, to the smallholder tree farming system will not only provide income opportunities to the farmers but also prevent soil erosion and conserve forest water. However, precautionary measures must be undertaken not to overshade the abaca since overshading causes the production of weak fibre. Integrating abaca in established monoculture fruit trees and mixed forest culture especially rainforestation farming is found to have a number of economic and ecological benefits

Mechanical testing of natural fibre reinforced polyester resin composites and Mode 1 fracture toughness testing of resin blocks

Recent European Parliament directive requires companies to achieve materials recycling greater than 80% in particular in the automotive sector [1]. The research on natural fibre based composite materials fits well into this ecological image. The advantages of natural fibres over synthetic materials include, low density, relative cheapness, availability and biodegradability. In this paper we explore the fabrication and mechanical testing of natural fibre composites and this is part of an on going study at Strathclyde University and describes the fabrication of composites using natural fibre and styrene polyester resin. The properties of the synthetic resin can be varied by changing the catalysts concentration and flexural (three point bending) and single-edged notched bending (SENB) properties are reported at different concentrations of the catalyst