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Influence of NaHCO3 treated kenaf/nettle

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Abstract

This investigation addresses the experimental research on the mechanical and sliding
wear behavior of kenaf/nettle-epoxy composites. The mechanical properties like tensile
strength, flexural strength, and hardness in this investigation were found to be greatly
affected by the kenaf/nettle fiber content. The variation of reinforcement (keanf/nettle)
from 0 wt% to 12 wt% was used for fabricating the composites. Moreover, up-to 8 wt% of
fiber loading, tensile strength-153.20 MPa (61.75 %) and flexural strength- 68.57 MPa
(55.24 %) are increased as compared to neat epoxy composites, whereas higher hardness
(63.42 Hv) is achieved at 12 wt% of fiber loading. Sliding wear tests are conducted at
different normal loads (10-40N) and reveal that higher wear resistance is achieved at
12 wt% at 30N of fiber loading, which is 4.0033/N-m × 10-8. From this investigation, it can
be clearly shown that plant fiber (kenaf/nettle) could be innovative feasible alternative to
renewable, eco-friendly, and light weight fiber reinforced composites with moderate
mechanical and wear properties.
Introduction

Recently, plant fibers have been widely used as reinforcing agents in polymer composites
in manufacturing sectors. Such enhanced usage of plant fibers is particularly inspired to
increase the performance of composite applications, reduce manufacturing costs, and
raise concern over environmental hazards due to disposal constraints [1]. Therefore,
cutting edge research and advanced efforts have led to new composites based on plant
fibers (jute, kenaf, hemp, coir and flax) [2]. The reinforcement of such plant fibers has
brought sustainable, biodegradable, durable, and environmentally friendly natural-
composites [3]. Generally, the properties of plant fiber based composites are controlled
by the weight percentage of fiber, length of fiber, chemical treatment, and fiber
orientation. These days, plant fibers with varying weight percentages and chemical
modifications have been developed by scientists, researchers, and engineers as
alternative reinforcing agents in the fabrication of polymer composites that are
economically good, have better mechanical properties, and are recyclable [4], [5]. The
chemical-treated composite is observed to have considerably more favorable mechanical
properties than the untreated fiber composite [6].

The non cellulosic constituents of plant fiber are hemicelluloses, lignin, pectin, and ash,
which are easily diminished by NaOH (sodium hydroxide) treatment and improve the
mechanical properties of fabricated composites [7], [8], [9]. The influence of chemical
modification and fiber content of bagasse fiber in unsaturated polyester composites was
investigated, and it was observed that the superior tensile strength (229.01 ± 35.56 MPa)
was achieved up to 20 wt% of bagasse fiber [10]. Due to improper disposal of chemical
waste after chemical treatment of fibers, it may pose a hazard to the environment.
Furthermore, researchers are shifting from NaOH chemical treatment to eco-friendly
NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate) treatment of plant fibers and fabricating fiber-polymer
composites with reasonable cost. The NaHCO3 treated palm kernel shell fiber based
polyethylene composites are investigated, and it is revealed that sodium bicarbonate has
the capability to increase the mechanical properties of composites by improving the
interfacial adhesion between the fiber–matrix constituents [11]. Siva et al. [12]
investigated the influence of NaHCO3 on the mechanical properties of raw Coccinia
grandis natural fiber and observed that 15 % NaHCO3 treated fiber had a higher value of
tensile strength (349.30 ± 39.52). Hybrid composites are the combination of two or more
different fiber- fibers and fiber- fillers used as reinforcement in a single matrix, which are
fabricated by researchers and significantly improve the properties of composites. The
influence of jute/banana hybrid fiber on the mechanical behavior of epoxy composites is
investigated, and it is observed that hybrid composites show higher mechanical
properties as compared to mono (jute or banana) fiber-based epoxy composites [13]. Due
to their self-lubricating behavior, plant fiber-based composites have rapidly gained
attention in tribological applications like cams, brakes, clutches, and bearings. Among all
the wear conditions (abrasive, fatigue, adhesive, erosion, and fretting), many researchers
have focused their investigation on the sliding wear performance of fiber-based polymer
composites. They reported the enhancement of the wear resistance behavior of polymer
composites by the incorporation of different reinforcements [14], [15], [16]. Kenaf and
nettle fibers are obtained from the bast of plants and have been proven to exhibit better
mechanical properties [17]. Keanf/nettle fiber is an important reinforcing agent in the
field of polymer composites because of its cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits,
and versatile properties. The incorporation of kenaf fiber with different polymer matrix
like propylene [18], epoxy [19], and polyester [20], [21] are investigated by the
researchers. The height of nettle plant is 0.5 m to 2 m belongs to Urticaceae family and
abundantly available at 500 m to 2600 m altitudes. Kenaf/nettle fiber-based composites
Provide a novel and sustainable substitute to man-made fiber reinforced composites
because of their exclusive properties like; biodegradability, acoustic insulation, and
lightweight. These properties of composites make them appropriate for a wide range of
applications in packaging industries, automotive, construction etc. Based on the
literature, the aim of the present research is to fabricate four different types of epoxy
composites with the addition of varying percentages of plant fibers (kenaf and nettle
fiber), i.e., 0 wt%, 4 wt%, 8 wt%, and 12 wt%. Due to a lack of research on NaHCO3 treated
fiber-based polymer composites, in the present investigation, Bauhinia vahlii and nettle
fibers were first chemically treated with sodium bicarbonate (10 %) and reinforced in
epoxy composites. We also scrutinize the mechanical characteristics, including tensile
strength, flexural strength, and hardness, as well as the sliding wear properties.

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Section snippets

Experimental details

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus, family Malvaceae) is a bast fiber obtained from the stems of
plants. It is economically cheap compared to other natural fibers and abundantly
available due to its fast growth and climate tolerance. Nettle is 0.5 m to 2 m high plant
and originates between 500 m and 2600 m high altitudes. Nettle plant belongs to the
Urticaceae family, locally called Kandali or Bichhu ghaas. The densities of kenaf and
nettle fiber are 1.4 g/cm3 and 1.45 g/cm3. From recognized …
Mechanical properties of composites

The mechanical properties of composites are carried out according to ASTM standards, as
depicted in Fig. 2. It is revealed that the incorporation of kenaf/nettle fiber has the
potential to enhance the tensile strength of plant fiber-based composites. It is observed
that the kenaf/nettle fiber-based epoxy composites attained KN-4: 52.72 %, KN-8: 61.75 %,
and KN-12: 55.10 % higher tensile strength as compared to neat epoxy composites. The
superior value of tensile strength was achieved at 153.20 …

Conclusions

The present research work investigates the influence of kenaf/nettle fiber combinations
on the mechanical and sliding wear performance of epoxy composites. The optimal fiber
content where tensile strength and flexural strength are attaining maximum values is
8 wt% kenaf/nettle fiber. The mechanical testing (tensile strength and flexural strength) of
the composites revealed that KN-8 composites exhibited higher tensile strength (153.20
MPa) and flexural strength (68.57 MPa), whereas higher …

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Bhanu Pratap: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation,
Conceptualization. Vinay Kumar Patel: Visualization, Supervision. …

Declaration of competing interest

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