Characterization and Comparative Insights on Agave Americana and Agave Sisalana Leaf Fibers for High-Performance Applications

ABSTRACT

This work is focused on characterization and comparative study of agave americana and agave sisalana leaf fibers which can be used as potential alternative for synthetic fibers in engineering applications. Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of agave fibers were determined using different analytical procedures and instruments. According to the experimental data, the mean length and diameter of agave americana fibers were maximum of 1.76 m and 411 μm, respectively. Furthermore, the particular fibers possess larger amount of hemicellulose (17.4%) and moisture (~8%) which confirmed they are relatively hydrophilic in nature. Conversely, agave sisalana fibers possess larger amount of cellulose (66.4%) and ligni10.1080/10942912.2023.2246677n (~16%) compared to agave americana fibers. Meanwhile, SEM microstructure also proved surface of agave americana fibers was comparably rough, full of cracks and linings. EDAX analysis showed presence of significant amount of C and O, including trace amount of Ca, K, Si and S. Similarly, the semicrystalline agave americana fibers are longer and thicker possessing greater mean linear density (29.68 Tex). Agave sisalana fibers recorded maximum breaking tensile strength and elongation at break (512 MPa) and (~6%), respectively. These findings strongly suggested that agave fibers possess interesting features which can be used as potential reinforcement fibers for composite engineering.

本工作主要对美洲龙舌兰和剑麻叶纤维进行了表征和比较研究，这两种纤维可作为工程应用中合成纤维的潜在替代品. 采用不同的分析方法和仪器测定了龙舌兰纤维的理化性能和力学性能. 根据实验数据，美洲龙舌兰纤维的平均长度和直径分别为1.76 m和411 μm. 此外，特定纤维具有更大量的半纤维素（17.4%）和水分（~8%），这证实了它们在性质上是相对亲水的. 相反，与美洲龙舌兰纤维相比，剑麻纤维含有更多的纤维素（66.4%）和木质素（~16%）. 同时，扫描电镜微观结构也证实了美洲龙舌兰纤维表面比较粗糙，充满了裂纹和衬里. EDAX分析显示存在大量的C和O，包括微量的Ca、K、Si和S. 类似地，半结晶美洲龙舌兰纤维更长、更厚，具有更大的平均线密度（29.68Tex）. 剑麻纤维的最大断裂抗拉强度和断裂伸长率分别为（512MPa）和（~6%）. 这些发现有力地表明，龙舌兰纤维具有有趣的特性，可作为复合材料工程的潜在增强纤维.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fibers
• agave americana
• agave sisalana
• characterization
• extraction and physico-chemical properties

关键词:

• 天然纤维
• 美洲龙舌兰
• 龙舌兰
• 刻画
• 萃取和理化性质

Highlights

• Extraction of longer and stronger agave fibers.

• Comparison of physico-chemical and mechanical properties of agave sisalana and agave americana fibers

• Agave sisalana fibers possess superior tensile strength compared to agave americana fibers.

Acknowledgements

The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support from International Foundation of Science (IFS) {scheme number: I-2-W-6248-1} and Mekelle University, Department of Chemistry for the access of laboratory facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’s contribution

All authors contribute their share starting from sample collection, characterization, analysis and write-up.

Data availability statement

No additional supplemental material is available for this paper.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the International Foundation of Science [I-2-W-6248-1].