Fabrication of mesoporous silica nanoparticles by sol gel method followed various hydrothermal temperature AIP Conference Proceedings 1945, 020052 (2018) Abstract. Sugarcane fibers have been studied as reinforcement fibers to develop biocomposites of sugarcane fiberspolypropylene (PP). In this study, two different alkaline solutions were used to modify the sugarcane bagasse fibers, i.e. 10% v/v NaOH and 14% v/v Ca(OH)2 solution for 4 hours. Sugarcane fibers filled to polypropylene (PP) matrix was 3 cm, 5 cm and as their original length. They were added in the various weight percentage ratios between sugarcane fibers to PP of 20/80, 25/75, and 30/70. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the chemical structure of bagasse fibers after treatment. Composite strength was measured by tensile test which was performedin accordance with ASTM D638-03. The fracture surface of tensile tested composite specimens contained fibers from both treatment was evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results from the tensile test show that performing NaOH treatment for 4 hours could increase the tensile strength of the composites to 24.92 MPa when original length sugarcane fibers was used in the 25/75 weight ratio. Meanwhilethe highest strength of 11.30 MPa was obtained when 5 cm fibers treated with Ca(OH)2were added in a weight % ratio of bagasse fibers/PP at 25/75. The strength of composites decreases when bagasse fibers were added to 30 wt.%. The SEM evaluation shows the mixture between sugarcane fibers and PP was not quite homogeneous. In addition to that is a greater number of fibers were found with the transversal orientation or perpendicular to the direction of tensile stress.

Many auto manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler have already embraced natural fiber composites into both interior and exterior parts and are looking to expand the uses of this composites. They have to balance the changing public demands of greater comfort, better driving performances, and higher safety standards with the environmental requirements. Based on the preliminary study using 20 to 30 wt.% NaOH treated sugarcane bagasse fibers to make biocomposites with polypropylene matrix, the tensile strength obtained was variably, in the range between 8.31 to 20.59 MPa. A further study was required to improve the strength of the composites in comparison with the specified flexural strength required by the industry for automotive parcel tray. The sugarcane bagasse fibers obtained from the sugar mill were used and alkali treated with 10% v/v NaOH at various soaking time of 2, 4, and 6 hours. Biocomposite samples were prepared from 25/75 wt.% ratio sugarcane fibers/polypropylene (PP). The highest tensile strength of 14.35 MPa was obtained from the samples with sugarcane fibers receiving two-hour alkali treatment. However, the highest flexural strength (37.78 MPa) was gained on the samples made from sugarcane fibers with 4 hours alkali treatment. This value has met the strength specification of two materials for current parcel trays which were made from monomaterial of polypropylene and woodboard composite which their flexural strengths were 35.6 MPa and 37.57 MPa, respectively. Structural studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the fracture surface of tensile tested samples show two different orientations of bagasse fibres in PP matrix, i.e. a group was in longitudinal orientation and other in transversal orientation.

Milling sugarcanes to produce sugar generates by-product called bagasse. Due to the large availability and low cost, the potential of obtaining renewable and biodegradable fibers from bagasse had been explored. To produce fibers from these bagasse, the bagasse was treated in alkali solution using 14 % v/v calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 at high temperature (60-70 o C) for 4 hours. After treatment and washed to remove dissolved substances, the fibers were cut into 3 and 5 cm length. Some fibers were prepared in their original length. These fibers were mixed with polypropylene (PP) matrix in weight % ratios of bagasse fibers/PP 20/80, 25/75, and 30/70 and hotpressed to make composite samples. Composites produced were characterised with tensile test to evaluate their tensile properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on the fiber surface as well as on the fracture area of the tensile tested samples. Tensile strength of the composite shows an increase with the increase of the fiber length and weight % ratios of bagasse fibers/PP up to 25/75 and decreases when bagasse fibers were added to 30 wt.%. The highest strength of 11,30 MPa was obtained when 5 cm fibers were used in a weight % ratio of bagasse fibers/PP at 25/75. SEM study found a greater number of fibers oriented perpendicular to the tension direction.

Greater interest in recent years to the increase demand in using natural fiber reinforcement of polymers is to comply with the increasing stringent international protocols related to climate change and environmental awareness. Many studies have reported the development of renewable and biodegradable agricultural by-products as reinforcement fibers for biocomposites. One of the essential factors in producing strong biocomposites is the properties prepared from the natural fibers which results from the alkalitreatment given. This research aims to evaluate the effect of different treatment duration on structural changes on sugarcane after alkali treatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) solutions. Calcium hydroxide was used as comparative solution in search for milder and more environmental friendly alkali solution as an alternative solution of NaOH. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) confirmed the major removal of lignin and minor of hemicellulose. It shows that the structure did not change considerably with the additional treatment time. The weight loss measurement after each treatmentshows a higher weight loss with the treatment with NaOH (40.5 % to 57.75 %) than the weight loss after Ca(OH)2 treatment (25 % to 46 %). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observed the morphology changes onthe fiber from both treatments.

There are more than 1000 species of cellulose plants available in fiber form. A number of them are by-products from the major food crops contain lignocellulosic sources and being investigated as composite reinforcement materials. Sugarcane bagasse and rice husk are potential reinforcement materials and they were used to reinforce polylactic acid (PLA) matrix to make green composites. In this research work, sugarcane bagasse was given two different kinds of treatment; some were alkali treated using 8 wt.% NaOH at room temperature for an hour and some other were steam treated at 0.75 MPa for 30 minutes. The fiber content of the composites changed with weight percentage ratios of sugarcane bagasse/rice husk/PLA was 25/0/75, 25/5/70 and 25/10/65. Flexural strength was tested in accordance with ASTM D790-17 and structural evaluation was evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) on the fracture section of the flexural test samples. Composites produced using steam treated sugarcane bagasse and rice husk have lower area density (1277-1385 g/m2) compared to the ones formed using NaOH treated bagasse and rice husk (1162-1500 g/m2). Both values of area density are below the density of neat PP and wood flour reinforced PP/PE composites used as reference materials. The flexural test shows the NaOH treatment on the bagasse fibers improve the flexural strength of the composites but the rice husk content introduced to the structure reduces the strength of the composites. SEM evaluation shows fiber fracture and few pull-out.