Thermal Degradation Parameters and Tensile Properties of Borassus flabellifer Fruit Fiber Reinforcement

The fibers were extracted from ripened Borassus fruits. Two types of fibers were found in the fruits — coarse and fine fibers. Some of both these fibers were treated with 5% aq. NaOH solution. The primary thermograms of the untreated and alkali treated fibers were recorded in an inert atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min. Using these thermograms, the initial and final degradation temperatures, and the inflection temperature were determined. Using Doyle’s method, the integral procedural degradation temperature was also determined. The thermal stability of the fibers was found to increase slightly in alkali treatment. The tensile parameters-maximum stress, Young’s modulus, and percent elongation at break of the untreated and alkali treated fibers, were determined using a universal testing machine. The tensile properties of the both fibers were found to increase on alkali treatment.