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A science investigatory project plan submitted as partial fulfilment and the requirement in
Research IIB
Group 6 -9-Pascal
January 2017
INTRODUCTION
composites are materials made up of other materials mixed together to achieve the best
properties of each product. Composite materials may have additional characteristics like
resistance to moisture or corrosion and usually have more strength or durability than other
products. Some examples of composite materials are fiber cement, fiber-reinforced composite
In order to improve the properties of composites with the use of natural resources,
fibers are used as reinforcement for them. These composites are called Natural Fiber-
Reinforced Polymers (NFRP). Natural fibers have low density, low cost, and are
biodegradable. However, natural fibers in composites have poor compatibility between fiber
and matrix and the relative high moisture absorption. Therefore, chemical treatments are
strength between fiber and polymer matrix is considered as a major factor in order to get
superior fiber reinforcement composites properties. However, the presence pendant hydroxyl
and polar groups in fiber leads to extremely high moisture absorption, which results in weak
interfacial bonding between the fiber and the hydrophobic matrix polymers. In order to
fibre must be carried out to reduce the hydrophilic behavior of fibers and the absorption of
moisture. The main purpose of surface treatments of natural fibers is to enhance fibre/matrix
interfacial bonding and stress transferability of the composites. A few examples are alkali,
bleaching, peroxide, and acrylation. Commented [NI1]: This part is new because it has info
abput chemical treatments. Source:
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijps/2015/243947/
From one of the examples, the bleaching treatment makes use of hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2), which is extensively used in the textile industry and medicine. However, only a few
studies have reported about the effect of this treatment on the properties of polymeric
better physical appearance of composite can be obtained with incorporation of bleached fiber
into the polymeric composite. The treatment had a positive result with kenaf fibers and 5%
hydrogen peroxide based from a recent research article. Commented [NI2]: This one is also new. It gives some info
about the bleaching treatment. Source:
file:///Users/noelignacio/Downloads/molecules-19-
Natural fibers, in a brief description, are fibers that are not engineered or artificial. 02957%20(1).pdf
They can either be obtained from plants or animals (A. Ticoalu, 2010). Commented [NI3]: Redundant na to pero Ill leave it to
you if okay pa sya or nah.
These plants that produce cellulose fibers can be grouped into bast fibers (jute, flax,
ramie, hemp, and kenaf), seed fibers (cotton, coir, and kapok), leaf fibers (sisal, pineapple,
and abaca), grass and reed fibers (rice, corn, and wheat), and core fibers (hemp, kenaf, and
jute) as well as all other kinds (wood and roots) (Omar Faruk, 2012). Commented [NI4]: I really think that this is out of context
:C
From a recent study regarding the utilization of talahib fibers in NFRPs, an
enzyme called xylanase was used as a coupling agent instead of other more conventional
chemical treatments. Xylanase is a class of enzymes responsible for the degradation of xylan
into xylose. Like any enzyme, xylanase is amphiprotic, making it an environment-friendly
coupling agent for the hydrophilic fibers and the hydrophobic resin matrix of any given
NFRP. In addition, it has an important role in human digestion. This is very useful for smaller Commented [NI5]: This is xylanase info from Sir
Tumolvas paper.
organisms since it permits them to extract supplements from vegetable matter that has many
fibers. These same properties additionally make xylanase industrially essential in light of the
fact that it can separate plant fiber for a variety of uses from dough conditioning to
papermaking (Dr. Edward Group DC, The Health Benefits of Xylanase, 2014).
reinforced composite based on the different chemical treatments it will undergo, and whether
Talahib stalks will be obtained from Quezon City. The leaves will be removed and the
stalks will be cut into 4 inches.
A talahib plant will be brought to Jose Vera Santos Memorial Herbarium, Institute of
Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman for verification and authentication to make
The materials will be obtained from different locations. 6% hydrogen peroxide will be
obtained from Manila and the xylanase will be obtained from the University of the
Philippines Los Baos, Laguna. Sodium hydroxide and acetic acid will be obtained from
Building together with the lab apparatus. Ethyl acetate, which is a component in the acid
For the first fiber mat, which will be produced by treating it with alkali (NaOH)
solution and will be labelled as Fiber mat A, cellulose from the plant will be separated from
the lignin through the pulping method. To do the pulping method, immerse the pieces of
Talahib stalks into aqueous 5% Volume NaOH solution for 2 days. NaOH solution or sodium
hydroxide will be the main key of white liquor solution to separate lignin from cellulose
fibers. Afterwards, they will be cooked for 9 hours and be washed 3 times with distilled water
to neutralize it. They will be cooked in an acid solution to dissolve the lignin and separate the
plant fibers. By combining water, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate will create a remarkable
solvent for dissolving lignin, which makes the glue that will hold wood fibers together after
dissolving lignin as it separates the plant fiber (Young, R.A., (1986, February). The fibers
will also be washed to remove the acid solution, and the pulp will be soft and fibrous. Metal
sheets and clamps will be used as a pulp screen to sweep the mat of pulp out of the water.
While cooking and washing, the waste product called black liquor will be obtained and
removed using a strainer to separate harmful impurities from pulp with minimal fiber loss and
acceptable cost level. Pulp from cooking will always contain some unwanted solid materials.
Some of them may not have been fiberized properly and some of the fibrous material may not
be completely in true form of individual fibers. The fiber mats will be cut into 2 by 2 sized
The fiber mat B will undergo enzymatic treatment with the use of Xylanase. The
fibers will be pre-treated by soaking it with 5% volume alkali (NaOH) solution for 2 days.
After soaking, it will be washed with distilled water to get rid of the excess alkali solution,
then it will be dried for 2 days. The pre-treated fiber will be soaked 100 % by weight
Xylanase in water for 8 hours. Then it will be cooked in acid solution for 9 hours and will be
washed to remove the acid solution. A strainer will be used to get the mat of pulp out of the
water. The mat within the metal sheets with clamps will be put in an oven for 1 hour to dry.
The fiber mat C will be produced using fibers that will go through Peroxide
Treatment. Talahib fibers will be treated with 3% peroxide in water for 30 and 45 minutes.
After treatments,the fibers will be washed with distilled water and dried in hot air oven at
50oC for 5 hours. The treated fibers will be cooked in an acid solution for 9 hours and will be
washed to remove the acid solution. A strainer will be used to get the mat of pulp out of the
water. The mat within the metal sheets with clamps will be put in an oven for 1 hour to dry.
The fiber mats will be reinforced with unsaturated polyester using three different
coupling agents. The setup will have 3 fiber mats for each type of coupling agent.
When the composite is done, UTM (Universal Testing Machine), which uses Youngs
modulus test, will be used to test its strength. Youngs modulus measures the resistance of a
The results will be compared to know which treatment will be the most preferable
5
x 100 = 62.5%
8
Bibliography
A. Ticoalu, T. A. (2010). A review of current development in natural fiber composites for structural
and infrastructure applications. Southern Region Engineering Conference . Toowoomba,
Australia: University of Southern Queensland .
Beach, E. (2015, August 30). What Are Some Uses of Composite Materials? Retrieved from
Livestrong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/131647-what-are-some-uses-composite-
materials/
Dr. Edward Group DC, N. D. (2014, June 19). The Health Benefits of Xylanase. Retrieved from
Global Healing Center : http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/xylanase/
Omar Faruk, A. K.-P. (2012). Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 20002010. Progress in
Polymer Science, 1552-1596.
Xue Li, L. G. (2007). Chemical Treatments of Natural Fiber for Use in Natural Fiber-Reinforced
Composites: A Review. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 25-33.