Investigating the Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Constituents and Tensile Properties of Sisal Fibre

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of chemical treatment on the constituents and tensile properties of sisal fibre (Agave Sisalana). Sisal leaves were cut and buried underground close to the stream and were wetted with water regularly in order to ensure proper fermentation for about 15 days. The fermented leaves were washed and sun dried. The dried sisal fibre obtained was treated mechanically with chemicals after which the percentages of their constituents were characterized and, their tensile properties determined with Instron universal tensile testing machine. The results show that the chemical treatments enhance the removal of lignin and hemicelluloses which are detrimental to the bonding strength of composite produced from natural fibres except that of sample treated with alkaline peroxide. The results of the tensile test revealed that sample treated sequentially with KOH, acetic acid, NaCl and HCl has the best tensile properties followed by the sample treated with alkaline peroxide.