Investigation on Physicochemical, Tensile Test, and Thermal Properties of Alkali Treatment to A. Angustifolia Haw Fibers

Natural fibers are an attractive solution in the composite material industry, for achieving the biodegradability and sustainability that synthetic fibers do not offer. In this study, the effect of the alkali treatment (AT) on the physical properties, chemical composition, morphology, thermal behavior, and tensile strength of fibers extracted from Agave angustifolia Haw leaves was studied. Fibers were treated with 5% NaOH solution (v/v) for 10, 30, and 60 min. Tensile tests of single treated fibers (TF) were carried out at three-gauge lengths. The percentages of lignin and hemicellulose showed a decrease with AT which, in turn, induced a modification of morphological and crystalline structures. Thermal analysis revealed that, due to the presence of hemicellulose constituents, the untreated fibers (UF) had lower thermal stability than TF. Tensile tests revealed that the strength and strain decreased with the increase in the diameter and the test gauge length of the agave fibers.