The effect of alkaline treatment on mechanical properties of sugarcane fibers for use in natural fiber-reinforced composites

The present work investigates the effect of alkaline treatment on the mechanical properties of sugarcane fibers. Sugarcane bagasse was treated with an alkaline solution (NaOH) for different periods of time in order to get cellulosic fibers, modify the fiber surface and its internal structure. The fibers were characterized by TGA, DSC, SEM, XRD and tensile tests. Treated fibers were used as reinforcement on a polymer thermoset epoxy matrix. Tensile tests indicated that composites containing alkali-treated fibers showed an increase in Young´s modulus and tensile strength. The best improvements were obtained for the composites reinforced with fibers submitted to alkaline treatment with longer periods of time. (author)