Physical, Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of Sida Rhombifolia Fibers from the Center Region of Cameroon for their potential use in textiles and composites

ABSTRACT

To substitute synthetic fibers, which are non-biodegradable and environmentally unfriendly, studies have been carried out to exploit vegetable fibers. Within this concept, this work investigates Sida rhombifolia as a case study. Previous studies showed that the fibers could be extracted only by cold water retting, but this study seeks to show that the boiling water extraction technique can also be used. The objective of this study is to characterize Sida rhombifolia fibers from the Center region of Cameroon, extracted with cold and boiling water, and compare their physico-chemical and mechanical properties with those of other vegetable fibers. The standard tests for the different characterizations have been respected. This study showed that the fibers extracted with cold water retting contained 70.16% cellulose, 16.70% hemicellulose, 10.86% lignin, and 1.47% pectin, while the fibers extracted by boiling water technique contained 68.71% cellulose, 17.48% hemicellulose, 11.26% lignin, and 2.01% pectin. Finally, extraction of fibers from the cold water retting technique gave 38.83% extraction yield, 1.33 g.cm⁻³ density, 11.23 tex linear mass, 11.73% water content, 118.53% rate of water absorption, and 21.45% humidity at a relative humidity of 75%. While fibers extracted by the boiling water technique had 33.74% extraction yield, 1.35 g.cm⁻³ density, 13.57 tex linear mass, 13.28% water content, 225.12% rate of water absorption, and 22.06% humidity at a relative humidity of 75%, statistical analysis by Student’s t-test showed a significant difference in the mechanical properties of the fibers depending on the extraction method. Sida rhombifolia fibers can be used in textiles and composites and can be extracted by the boiling water technique.

摘要

为了取代不可生物降解且对环境不友好的合成纤维，人们对开发植物纤维进行了研究. 在这一概念下，本文以菱叶西达为例进行了研究. 先前的研究表明，纤维只能通过冷水脱胶来提取，但本研究试图表明，沸水提取技术也可以使用. 本研究的目的是对喀麦隆中部地区用冷水和沸水提取的菱叶西达纤维进行表征，并将其物理化学和力学性能与其他植物纤维进行比较. 不同特征的标准测试得到了尊重. 研究表明，冷水脱胶提取的纤维中纤维素含量为70.16%，半纤维素含量为16.70%，木质素含量为10.86%，果胶含量为1.47%，沸水提取的纤维含有纤维素68.71%，半纤维素17.48%，木质素11.26%，果胶2.01%. 最后，从冷水脱胶技术中提取纤维，在75%的相对湿度下，提取率为38.83%，密度为1.33 g.cm-3，线性质量为11.23Tex，含水量为11.73%，吸水率为118.53%，湿度为21.45%. 虽然通过沸水技术提取的纤维在75%的相对湿度下具有33.74%的提取产率、1.35 g.cm-3的密度、13.57tex的线性质量、13.28%的含水量、225.12%的吸水率和22.06%的湿度，但通过学生t检验的统计分析显示，纤维的机械性能因提取方法而异. 菱叶丝达纤维可用于纺织品和复合材料，并可通过沸水技术提取.

KEYWORDS:

• Vegetable fibers
• Sida rhombifolia
• extraction technique
• student’s t-test
• textiles
• composites

关键词:

• 植物纤维
• 菱叶西达
• 提取技术
• 学生t检验
• 纺织品
• 复合材料

Disclosure statement

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

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr. Njom Abel for carrying out the FTIR analysis of the fibers. We would also like to thank Mrs.Younga Ngolle Alida Sidonie (PLEG bilingual letter, English language teacher at GTHS Kekem), Mrs. Yungong Blessing Menkan (textile and clothing industry teacher and researcher at the University of Douala's mechanics laboratory), and Mr. Noubissie Tchoko Romuald Loic (researcher at the University of Douala's mechanics laboratory) for their contributions in proofreading this English-language manuscript. We would like to thank all the reviewers of this manuscript for the quality of their expertise.

Author’s Contribution

Téclaire Ngoup: Interpretation of results, drafting and reading of manuscript; Nkemaja Dydimus Efeze: Supervision of work, validation of tests and reading of manuscript; Thomas Kanaa: Methodology, reading of manuscript; Jonas Peequeur Essome Mbang: Interpretation of results , drafting and reading of manuscript; César Segovia: Investigation into methodology, reading of manuscript; Nnanga nga: Reading of manuscript; Ebenezer Njeugna: Reading of manuscript and supervision of work.