Nasmi Herlina Sari, I.N.G. Wardana, Yudy Surya Irawan, Eko Siswanto
This paper focuses on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of corn husk fibers treated with different concentrations of NaOH (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, and 8%) for 2 h. The results show that treatment with NaOH removed the hemicellulose and lignin in the fibers and decreased the moisture content. Consequently, the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the treated fibers were greatly improved. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the presence of rough surfaces and a number of lumens inside the fiber bundles. The results suggest that the treated corn husk fibers exhibited better mechanical properties than fiberglass. © 2018 Taylor & Francis.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mataram University, NTB, Mataram, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
