Comparative Analysis of Soaking Time on Hardness and Tensile Strength for Mercerization Treated Raffia Palm Fibre

Abstract

The paper aims to study the soaking time on hardness and tensile strength for mercerization modified raffia palm fibre, which will be gathered, extracted, retted, processed and treated with 5% and 10% NaOH concentration using a soaking time of 60(1hr), 120(2hrs), 180(3hrs) and 240 minutes(4hrs) at a varying fibre length of 50, 60, 70 and 80mm. From the experiment conducted for hardness, the maximum optimum value of 395 HB was recorded at 60mm fibre length for 2 hours using 10% NaOH concentration. While the strength gave an average optimum value of 768Mpa at 70mm fibre length for 3 hours using 5% NaOH concentration at varying the soaking time for mercerization modified fibre. The fibre was grounded into smaller particles size and reinforced with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Different test samples for the production of oil and gas facilities like pipes and pipe joints, a storage system (pressure vessel), etc. and also for producing interior paneling for aircraft and automobiles, household tables and chairs, window frames, laptop cases, and another consumer item.

Keywords: Raffia Palm, Soaking Time, Mercerization, high-density polyethylene

DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/10-6-02

Publication date:July 31st 2019