Impact of Alkali Treatment on the Morphology, Mechanical, and Moisture Characteristics of Banana Fiber
Siti Aisyah binti Azman, Ahmad Humaizi bin Hilmi, Asna Rasyidah binti Abdul Hamid, Abdul Rashid bin Othman
Abstract. This study investigates the influence of alkali treatment on the morphological, mechanical, and moisture properties of banana fibers, emphasizing their potential for sustainable composite applications. Treating banana fibers with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) removed non-cellulosic constituents such as lignin, hemicellulose, and waxes, thereby modifying surface roughness, tensile performance, and hydrophilicity. Concentrations of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% NaOH were evaluated using tensile testing, Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and moisture measurement. Among these, 5% NaOH treatment produced the most optimum outcomes, with tensile strength increasing by approximately 52% and elongation at break by nearly 69% compared to untreated fibers. Moisture absorption decreased by about 39%, enhancing dimensional stability. Higher concentrations caused fiber degradation and reduced mechanical performance. These findings highlight 5% NaOH as the optimal treatment for improving fiber–matrix compatibility while maintaining structural integrity, supporting the development of banana fiber composites for engineering applications.
Keywords
Alkali Treatment, Banana Fiber, Fiber Crystallinity, Mechanical Properties, Moisture Absorption
Published online 1/15/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Siti Aisyah binti Azman, Ahmad Humaizi bin Hilmi, Asna Rasyidah binti Abdul Hamid, Abdul Rashid bin Othman, Impact of Alkali Treatment on the Morphology, Mechanical, and Moisture Characteristics of Banana Fiber, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 60, pp 26-33, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903971-4
The article was published as article 4 of the book Frontiers of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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