INVESTIGADORES
ALVAREZ Vera Alejandra
artículos
Título:
Fique Fibers: Enhancement of the tensile strength of alkali treated fibers by means of tensile load application
Autor/es:
CATALINA GÓMEZ HOYOS; VERA ALVAREZ; PIEDAD GAÑÁN ROJO; ANALÍA VÁZQUEZ
Revista:
FIBERS AND POLYMERS
Editorial:
KOREAN FIBER SOC
Referencias:
Año: 2012 vol. 13 p. 632 - 640
ISSN:
1229-9197
Resumen:
Fique fibers were treated using Na(OH) solution at 5 w/v%, slack and under 1 N of tension, at room temperature,
for 4 and 24 h respectively. Changes in their structure and composition were monitored using Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally their mechanical prop-
erties were evaluated and analyzed. Results showed that tensile load application during alkali treatment improves their tensile
strength and modulus. The most important change in mechanical properties was achieved in fibers treated for 24 h under
tension. However, these fibers presented a high standard deviation; due to this treatment causing an important defibrillation.
Moreover, fibers treated for 4 hours under tension, enhance their tensile strength around 56 %, while slack treated fibers
improve only 38 %. When fibers were treated under tension, cellulose microfibrills were rearranged in the direction of tensile
application and the spiral angle decreased, increasing the molecular orientation.