Functional Properties of Kenaf Bast Fibre Anhydride Modification Enhancement with Bionanocarbon in Polymer Nanobiocomposites

The miscibility between hydrophilic biofibre and hydrophobic matrix has been a challenge in developing polymer biocomposite. This study investigated the anhydride modification effect of propionic and succinic anhydrides on Kenaf fibre’s functional properties in vinyl ester bionanocomposites. Bionanocarbon from oil palm shell agricultural wastes enhanced nanofiller properties in the fibre-matrix interface via the resin transfer moulding technique. The succinylated fibre with the addition of the nanofiller in vinyl ester provided great improvement of the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths of 92.47 ± 1.19 MPa, 108.34 ± 1.40 MPa, and 8.94 ± 0.12 kJ m−2, respectively than the propionylated fibre. The physical, morphological, chemical structural, and thermal properties of bionanocomposites containing 3% bionanocarbon loading showed better enhancement properties. This enhancement was associated with the effect of the anhydride modification and the nanofiller’s homogeneity in bionanocarbon-Kenaf fibre-vinyl ester bonding. It appears that Kenaf fibre modified with propionic and succinic anhydrides incorporated with bionanocarbon can be successfully utilised as reinforcing materials in vinyl ester matrix.

Functional principles of baobab fruit pedicels – anatomy and biomechanics

Background and Aims Fruit pedicels have to deal with increasing loads after pollination due to continuous growth of the fruits. Thus, they represent interesting tissues from a mechanical as well as a developmental point of view. However, only a few studies exist on fruit pedicels. In this study, we unravel the anatomy and structural–mechanical relationships of the pedicel of Adansonia digitata, reaching up to 90 cm in length. Methods Morphological and anatomical analyses included examination of stained cross-sections from various positions along the stalk as well as X-ray microtomography and scanning electron microscopy. For mechanical testing, fibre bundles derived from the mature pedicels were examined via tension tests. For establishing the structural–mechanical relationships, the density of the fibre bundles as well as their cellulose microfibril distribution and chemical composition were analysed. Key Results While in the peduncle the vascular tissue and the fibres are arranged in a concentric ring-like way, this organization shifts to the polystelic structure of separate fibre bundles in the pedicel. The polystelic pedicel possesses five vascular strands that consist of strong bast fibre bundles. The fibre bundles have a Young’s modulus of up to 5 GPa, a tensile strength of up to 400 MPa, a high density (>1 g cm−3) and a high microfibril angle of around 20°. Conclusions The structural arrangement as well as the combination of high density and high microfibril angle of the bast fibre bundles are probably optimized for bearing considerable strain in torsion and bending while at the same time allowing for carrying high-tension loads.

A Comprehensive Review on Bast Fibre Retting Process for Optimal Performance in Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Natural fibres are a gift from nature that we still underutilise. They can be classified into several groups, and bast natural fibre reinforcement in polymer composites has the most promising performance, among others. However, numerous factors have reported influences on mechanical properties of the fibre-reinforced composite, including natural fibre retting processes. In this review, bast fibre retting process and the effect of enzymatic retting on the fibre and fibre-reinforced polymer composites have been discussed and reviewed for the latest research studies. All retting methods except chemical and mechanical retting processes are involving secretion of enzymes by bacteria or fungi under controlled (enzymatic retting) or random conditions (water and dew retting). Besides, enzymatic retting is claimed to have more environmentally friendly wastewater products, shorter retting period, and controllable fibre biochemical components under mild incubation conditions. This review comprehensively assesses the enzymatic retting process for producing high-quality bast fibre and will become a reference for future development on bast fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

Assessment of plant population on growth, fibre and seed yield of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) in Ibadan western Nigeria

Kenaf is a multi-purpose crop with numerous industrial uses. Its production is constrained by poor cultural and agronomic practices which reduce yield. Inappropriate spacing among others could result in low yield. Effect of plant spacing on growth and yield of kenaf was investigated in Ibadan, Nigeria. Kenaf seed was sown (2 plants/stand) at three plant spacing: 50×15, 50×20, 50×25 cm was assessed for seed and bast fibre yields using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The analysis was done using statistical analysis system (SAS). Plant spacing differed significantly for bast fibre and seed yields. Highest bast fibre yield (0.9±0.03) and seed yield (0.5±0.01) were obtained at 50×20 cm and 50×25 cm spacing, respectively, while the lowest bast fibre yield (0.7±0.01) and seed yield (0.3±0.01) were obtained at 50×15 cm spacing. Spacing of 50 × 15 cm and 50 × 20 cm are appropriate when planting for fibre while 50 × 25cm is appropriate for seed production. Keywords: Kenaf, Spacing, Fibre and Seed yield.