The long microfiber of Water-chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) as composite reinforcing material

Abstract

This preliminary research used long microfiber from water chesnut (Eleocharis dulcis) which is a weed plant in South Kalimantan, as a composite reinforcement material. This study aimed to study the effect of 6% NaOH alkalizing treatment and ultra-sonication on the properties of a long microfiber of water chesnut, especially for their chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. Firstly, the fiber of water chesnut was alkalizing by NaOH. This 6% NaOH treatment has reduced the moisture content of the fibers and their chemical components (lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose) while the density and tensile strength of the fibers were increased. The process continued by bleaching and ultra-sonication the fiber to create a long microfiber. The water content of fibers after alkalizing treatment and ultra-sonication has met the SNI standard. Alkalizing treatment reduced the fiber size by 373.05 µm, and in the form of microfiber, before ultra-sonication was 4.28-5.96 µm and after ultra-sonication was 3.17-4.00 µm. The tensile strength of long microfiber could not measure but after alkalized, it increased significantly, from 354.25 to 3,282.10 MPa. Therefore, it is recommended that this long water chesnut microfiber is very good when used as a reinforcing material in the manufacture of composites because it will blend better with the matrix.