Characterization of Selected Natural Fibres As Reinforcement Materials for Polymer Matrix Composites

In this paper the stress-strain behavior of banana stem (trunk), banana bunch, sisals and Ulera lobeta (ebari) fibres were studied at micro level of a single fibre strand of diameter between 0.1-0.3 mm. The study showed that treated ebari fibre has the best ultimate tensile strength of 116.8 MPa and elastic modulus of 39.56 GPa, whereas that of the treated banana bunch fibre was the lowest with ultimate tensile strength of 45.5 MPa and elastic modulus of 1.26 GPa. The water absorption test carried out on these natural fibre mats bonded with raw natural rubber latex indicated higher absorption capacity for the (NaOH/Na2SO3) surface treated banana bunch fibre than the untreated, while other fibre also treated had a reduction in their water uptake. The Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) showed a lower % weight loss at higher degradation temperatures of the fibres after surface treatment. The texture surface of the fibres was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).