Second International Conference on Performance-based and Lifecycle Structural Engineering (PLSE 2015)

Abstract

Elementary kenaf fibres were separated by the HNO3 treatment and the H2O2/CH3COOH treatment. It was found that the HNO3 treatment caused fibre fragmentation causing a decrease in the fibre length and an increase in the fibre defect density. However, the H2O2/CH3COOH treatment was not strong as the HNO3 treatment and this had much less effect on the fibre length and the fibre defects. The fibres had an average length of 0.2 mm and 2.3 mm and an aspect ratio of 15 and 179 for the HNO3 treated fibres and the H2O2/CH3COOH treated fibres, respectively. The defect density of the HNO3 treated fibres and the H2O2/CH3COOH treated fibres was 21 and 14 defects/mm, respectively. Both the treatments removed lignin, pectin and waxes. They also increased cellulose crystallinity in the fibres, especially for the HNO3 treatment. However, these treatments resulted in some oxidation of cellulose to occur