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Untreated and alkali treated fibers from Alfa stem: effect of alkali treatment on structural, morphological and thermal features

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Abstract

Alfa stems are rich in cellulose and they are an inexpensive, easily renewable source of natural fibers with the potential for polymer reinforcement. However, large amounts of non-cellulosic materials, surface impurities and low degrad ation temperature make natural fibers less attractive for reinforcement of polymeric materials, unless they can be modified in a proper way. In this paper, Alfa stems were treated with NaOH solution with two different concentrations (1 and 5 wt%). Raw and treated stems were crushed to obtain fibers. Stems and fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy, respectively. Their crystallinity index was determined by X-ray diffraction, thermal stability by thermogravimetry and structural change by FT-IR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Comparison and analysis of results confirmed some thermal, structural and morphological changes of the fibers after treatment due to removal of some non-crystalline constituents from the plant. SEM showed rougher surfaces after alkalization. FT-IR and 13C NMR showed a gradual improvement in cellulose level by alkali treatment with increasing NaOH concentration. The crystallinity index and thermal stability of treated Alfa fibers were also found to be improved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Lyon, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France

    Karama Elfehri Borchani & Christian Carrot

  2. CNRS, UMR5223, Ingénierie Des Matériaux Polymères, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France

    Karama Elfehri Borchani & Christian Carrot

  3. Université de Saint-Etienne, Jean Monnet, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France

    Karama Elfehri Borchani & Christian Carrot

  4. Laboratoire Eau-Energie-Environnement (LR3E), Ecole Nationale D’Ingénieurs de Sfax, Université de Sfax, 3038, Sfax, Tunisie

    Karama Elfehri Borchani & Mohamed Jaziri

Authors
  1. Karama Elfehri Borchani
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  2. Christian Carrot
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  3. Mohamed Jaziri
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Correspondence to Christian Carrot.

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Borchani, K.E., Carrot, C. & Jaziri, M. Untreated and alkali treated fibers from Alfa stem: effect of alkali treatment on structural, morphological and thermal features. Cellulose 22, 1577–1589 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0583-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0583-5

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