SISAL

About: SISAL is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1878 publications have been published within this topic receiving 55528 citations.

Effect of surface modification of sisal fibers on water absorption and mechanical properties of polyaniline composite

Abstract: This article presents the surface modification of sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers by alkalization to tune up mechanical limitations of natural fibers-reinforced polymer composites associated with poor fiber-polymer matrix compatibility. Upon surface treatment, the fibers were surface coated with polyaniline through in situ oxidative polymerization to further enhance resistance to water absorption by introducing hydrophobic polymer backbone. Based on the results from spectroscopic and microscopic analyses, surface modification through alkalization is an effective approach to remove lignin and hemicellulose from the surface of sisal fibers. It also enhanced fiber-polymer matrix compatibility assured by a significant increase in tensile strength. Polyaniline deposition on the surface of sisal fibers was successful to introduce hydrophobic polymer backbone to the system to enhance resistance to water absorption, thereby increasing tensile strength significantly. POLYM. COMPOS., 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

Properties of heat-treated sisal fiber/polylactide composites:

Abstract: Sisal fibers (SFs) were pretreated by heat treatment (HT). The SFs were mixed with a biodegradable material, polylactide (PLA), and the composites were prepared by hot press molding. The effects of the HT temperature and time on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated, and the HT mechanism was studied by scanning electron microscopy and infrared, x-ray photoelectron, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The results show that an appropriate HT can remove strongly hydrophilic materials such as hemicelluloses from the fibers, and thus decrease their hydrophilicity, thereby improving the retting between the fibers and the matrix. This improves fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion, which can improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The HT also influences the fiber strength to some extent and affects the mechanical properties of composites.

Enzymatic surface modification of sisal fibers ( Agave Sisalana ) by Penicillium echinulatum cellulases

Abstract: We report on the effect of a new microbial enzymatic system, Penicillium echinulatum cellulase, on the surface morphological (SEM), structural (XRD), and thermal (TGA/DTG) properties as well as the surface chemical composition (FT-IR and FT-Raman) of sisal fibers (Agave sisalana)—a potential replacement for glass fibers in composite materials. Cellulase treatment greatly improved the properties of sisal fibers, rendering the surface topography and chemical composition of the fibers free of contaminants and reducing the content of amorphous materials (hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, and disordered cellulose) to yield the crystalline cellulose network. Thermal stability and crystallinity were also greatly enhanced. This work demonstrated that microbial enzymes offer an inexpensive and environmentally attractive option to improve the surfaces of natural fibers for composite applications.

Investigation of mechanical properties of randomly distributed sisal fibre reinforced soil

Abstract: Fibre reinforcement technology, which has been widely used in geotechnical engineering, such as, ground treatment, slope protection, retaining wall and so on, can effectively improve the bearing capacity and the shear strength of soil body. The present study is aimed at determining the behaviour of silty clay reinforced with sisal fibre in a random manner. The soil used is a type of silty clay which is representative in Qingdao District. The fibres are cut to different lengths (5, 10 and 15 mm) and mixed randomly with soil in varying percentages (0·5, 1·0 and 1·5%). The test results indicate an improvement in the strength, deformation and shear failure characteristics of soil due to the addition of sisal fibres. Additionally, the cohesion and the peak of the principal stress difference of the sisal fibre reinforced soil are improved to some extent compared with the plain soil.

Fabrication and Characterization of Microcellular Polyurethane Sisal Biocomposites

Abstract: In this study, microcellular polyurethane (PU)-natural fiber (NF) biocomposites were fabricated. Polyurethanes based on castor oil and PMDI were synthesized with varying volume ratios of sisal fiber. The effect of natural fiber treatment using water and alkaline solution (1.5% NaOH) and load effect were investigated. Biocomposites were mechanically and physically investigated using tensile, viscoelasticity, and water absorption tests. The interfacial adhesion between PU and sisal fiber was studied using SEM. Short NF loads (3%) showed a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the PU-sisal composite such as modulus of elasticity, yield and tensile strength up to 133%, 14.35 % and 36.7% respectively. Viscoelastic measurements showed that the composites exhibit an elastic trend as the real compliance (J’) values were higher than those of the imaginary compliance (J’’). Increasing NF loads resulted in a decrease of J’. Applying variable temperatures (120–80 °C) caused an increase in the stiffness at different frequencies.