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A science investigatory project plan submitted as partial fulfilment and the requirement in
Research IIB
Group 6 -9-Pascal
February 2017
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare which easily attainable chemical treatment
would greatly contribute to the formulation of talahib NFPC. The treatments compared were the
alkali treatment, which mainly uses sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and the bleaching treatment,
which uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They were compared based on tensile strength and
moisture content that are essential in distinguishing an efficient talahib NFPC. The Universal
Testing Machine evaluated the tensile properties of the NFPC. The moisture absorption was
obtained through gravimetric analysis. From the tests, the talahib NFPC that underwent the alkali
treatment yielded the highest results. This study determined a highly recommended treatment for
Introduction
Composites are materials made up of other materials mixed together to achieve the best
properties of each product. Composite materials may have additional characteristics like
resistance to moisture or corrosion and usually have more strength or durability than other
products. Some examples of composite materials are fiber cement, fiber-reinforced composite
In order to improve the properties of composites with the use of natural resources, fibers
are used as reinforcement for them. These composites are called Natural Fiber-Reinforced
Polymers (NFRP). Natural fibers have low density, low cost, and are biodegradable. However,
natural fibers in composites have poor compatibility between fiber and matrix and the relative
high moisture absorption. Therefore, chemical treatments are considered in modifying the fiber
The bonding strength between fiber and polymer matrix is considered as a major factor in
order to get superior fiber reinforcement composites properties. However, the presence pendant
hydroxyl and polar groups in fiber leads to extremely high moisture absorption, which results in
weak interfacial bonding between the fiber and the hydrophobic matrix polymers. In order to
fiber must be carried out to reduce the hydrophilic behavior of fibers and the absorption of
moisture. The main purpose of surface treatments of natural fibers is to enhance fiber/matrix
interfacial bonding and stress transferability of the composites. A few examples are alkali,
The bleaching treatment mainly uses hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2), which is extensively
used in the textile industry and medicine. However, only a few studies have reported about the
effect of this treatment on the properties of polymeric composites. As an oxidizing bleaching
agent, H2O2 causes discoloration of fiber. Thus, better physical appearance of composite can be
obtained with incorporation of bleached fiber into the polymeric composite. The treatment had a
positive result with kenaf fibers and 5% hydrogen peroxide.[ CITATION Raz14 \l 1033 ]
An enzyme called xylanase was used as a coupling agent instead of other more
conventional chemical treatments. Xylanase is a class of enzymes responsible for the degradation
of xylan into xylose. Like any enzyme, xylanase is amphiprotic, making it an environment-
friendly coupling agent for the hydrophilic fibers and the hydrophobic resin matrix of any given
Talahib (Saccharum spontanuem) plant is a locally abundant wild species of grass that
grows in a variety of habitats at different altitudes in the tropics through the temperate regions.
Its strong disease resistance and high stress tolerance makes it highly adaptable and prolific
even with disturbance prone and changeable habitats, thereby ensuring perennial availability
of fiber supply across the country [ CITATION TPT14 \l 13321 ]. However, talahib plants are
considered as an agricultural problem to many farmers in the Philippines due to their nutrient
absorbing properties, which damages other plants near it, thus becoming a threat to crops.
Because of this, they are often cut and thrown away, which is ineffective due to their massive
production. To resolve the problem, a possible solution is found. Talahib fibers may be used as a
fiber reinforcement is primarily attributed to its cellulose content, which is comparable to those
of other sources of plant fibers. However, only a few studies were conducted focusing on the said
plant fiber and one of them proved that talahib NFPC with xylanase was efficient, especially in
tensile properties.
This paper focuses on the comparison of talahib fiber-reinforced composite based on
different and easily attainable chemical treatments it will undergo, and whether or not it will
affect the overall quality of the composite in terms of tensile and moisture properties.
(NFPCs) is very helpful to the environment. Talahib does not have any specific use here in the
Philippines, albeit being abundant. It is usually thrown away and burned, increasing waste and
pollution. It is also very harmful to other plants, especially in farms, because talahib absorbs all
the nutrients meant for the other plants. Its abundance and nutrient absorbing properties can be
benefited from. It is easy to find and obtaining it does not pose any threat to the environment.
The talahib plants are also usually very healthy, and are not easily disposed or destroyed by
outside factors. And due to its high cellulose content, its fibers are high in tensile strength, which
Collection of Materials
Talahib stalks were obtained from Quezon City. The leaves were removed and the stalks
were cut into 100 mm. A talahib plant was brought to Jose Vera Santos Memorial Herbarium,
Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman for verification and authentication.
The other materials were obtained from different locations. Five percent (5%) hydrogen
peroxide was obtained from an unnamed store in Blumentritt, Manila and the xylanase was
obtained from the University of the Philippines Los Baos, Laguna. Sodium hydroxide and
acetic acid were both obtained from the Green Materials laboratory in University of the
which is a component in the acid solution, was obtained from Chemline Scientific Corporation,
Tandang Sora, Quezon City. The orthophthalic unsaturated polyester resin matrix (R10-103),
which was used for fabrication, was purchased from Polymer Products Philippines, Inc.
Alkali Treatment
Fiber mat A was produced by treating the talahib stalks with alkali (NaOH) solution. The
pieces of talahib stalks were immersed into aqueous 5% volume sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
solution for 2 days. Cellulose from the plant was separated from the lignin through the pulping
method. The NaOH solution was the main key of white liquor solution to separate lignin from
cellulose fibers. Afterwards, they were cooked for 5 hours and washed 3 times with distilled
water to neutralize it. They were cooked in an acid solution to dissolve the lignin and separate
the plant fibers. By combining water, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate a remarkable solvent for
dissolving lignin was created, which makes the glue that holds wood fibers together as it
separates the plant fiber (Young, R.A., (1986, February). The fibers were also washed to remove
the acid solution, and the pulp became soft and fibrous. A screen was used to sweep the mat of
pulp out of the water. While cooking and washing, the waste product called black liquor was
obtained and removed using a strainer to separate harmful impurities from pulp with minimal
fiber loss and acceptable cost level. Pulp from cooking always contains some unwanted solid
materials. Some of them may not have been fiberized properly and some of the fibrous material
may not be completely in true form of individual fibers. A screen was used to get the mat of pulp
out of the water. The paper side of the screen was dried against a dry absorbent and the mat was
put in a hot air oven for 1 hour to dry. It was then cut into 30mm by 30mm size samples
Xylanase Treatment
Fiber mat A underwent enzymatic treatment with the use of xylanase after the alkali
treatment. The pre-treated fiber was soaked 100 % by weight xylanase in water (1 ml of xylanase
and 7000 enzyme units) for 8 hours. The paper side of the screen was dried against a dry
absorbent and the mat was put in a hot air oven for 1 hour to dry. It was then cut into 30mm by
Bleaching Treatment
Fiber mat B was produced using fibers that went through Bleaching Treatment. Talahib
fibers were treated with 5% peroxide for 60 min at pH 11 and the temperature was maintained at
80 C in water bath. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with concentration of 0.5 M was used to adjust
the pH until the solution reached pH11 [ CITATION Raz14 \l 13321 ]. The fiber was then
thoroughly washed with distilled water and a screen was used to get the mat of pulp out of the
water. The mat was dried in an oven at 60 C for 48 h. The fiber mat was then cut into 30mm by
mat.
Fabrication of NFPC
Flat bars designed to follow ASTM D638 were used as a mold to fabricate the talahib
fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composite samples. Durawax was applied on the mold
The fiber mats were laminated into the polyester by hand layup technique. The matrix
was prepared by adding hardener to the resin at 2.75% by weight, and then pouring the mixture
by portions unto the fiber mats that had been initially soaked with the resin and then placed and
arranged onto the mold. The samples are then cured using a thermal press for 6-7 hours
Testing
When the composite was done, UTM (Universal Testing Machine), which uses Youngs
modulus test, was used to test its strength along with tensile strength test. Youngs modulus
measures the resistance of a material to elastic (recoverable) deformation under load. It is equal
to elastic stress/strain. Specific stiffness (more properly called specific modulus) is Youngs
modulus/density it is mostly used for comparing materials so the units are not important
The samples were soaked for five minutes to compare their water absorption capabilities. After
this, the samples were left to dry for 2 minutes and then their weights were measured and
compared. A swelling test was conducted under this phase to see the effect of water absorption
on the composites. The data obtained distinguished which composite had lower values from the
tests conducted.
The results were compared to know which treatment will yield the ideal talahib NFPC
with xylanase based from their tensile, flexural, and water absorption properties.
Results and Discussion
Results
Sample Result
A 5.59 Newton/30mm
B <0.1 Newton/30mm
The Universal Testing Machine (UTM) was used to measure the tensile strength of each
sample. Table 1 indicates that Sample A has the highest tensile strength (5.59 Newton/30mm)
Sample Result
No Treatment 24.01%
A 35.47%
B 19.73%
The sample that yielded the highest water absorption capacity (35.47%) through
The talahib composite that underwent the alkali treatment showed the best results. It had
the highest tensile strength (5.59 N/30mm) and moisture content (35.47%), which greatly affects
The composite that had undergone the bleaching treatment yielded extremely low tensile
strength, due to the presence of oxygen in the treatment, which had caused its temperature to rise
significantly, and had lowered the amount of moisture inside the composite. The composite had
moisture content almost below the ideal saturation level, which is 19% moisture content and
The researchers encountered a problem that affected the production of the composite. In
dissolving the lignin of the fibers, the Ethyl Acetate, which was one of the components of the
solvent, had evaporated immediately. In order for the Ethyl Acetate to not evaporate, the
container where the lignins of the fibers are being dissolved should be covered. Another factor
that contributed greatly to its evaporation was the amount of Ethyl Acetate in the mixture, where
The chemical treatment that yielded the best results was the alkali treatment. Therefore,
this determined a highly recommended treatment for formulating a talahib NFPC that could be
Recommendations
1. The effect of the temperature on the fiber mats alone should be studied.
2. The effect of the weight of the talahib fibers on the formulation of the composite should
be further studied.
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