EFFECT OF CHEMICAL TREATMENT ON THE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO FIBER

This project investigates the effect of chemical treatment on the tensile properties of bamboo fiber, focusing on two chemicals: potassium hydroxide (KOH) and condemn oil. Bamboo, a natural fiber with excellent mechanical properties, holds great potential for use in sustainable, high performance material s. However, its properties can be further enhanced through chemical treatments. The goal of this research is to assess how KOH and condemn oil treatments impact key tensile properties such as tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and elongation at break The experimental design involved treating bamboo fibers with KOH at concentrations of 10%, for durations of 1 to 6 hours. Similarly, fibers were treated with condemn oil for 6 hours. Untreated fibers served as the control group. Post treatment, tensile t ests were conducted using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to evaluate the effects of the chemical treatments on the fibers' mechanical behavior. The results revealed that KOH treatment significantly improved the tensile strength and modulus of elasticit y of bamboo fibers, particularly at higher concentrations and longer treatment durations. Fibers treated with 10% KOH for 6 hours exhibited tensile strengths up to 250 MPa, a substantial increase from the untreated fibers, which was 170 MPa. However, the i ncrease in stiffness resulted in reduced elongation at break, indicating a loss of flexibility. In contrast, condemn oil treatment enhanced the tensile strength while preserving and even improving the flexibility of the bamboo fibers. Fibers treated with c ondemn oil for 6 hours showed tensile strengths of approximately 190 MPa and an elongation at break of 3%, which is higher than that of untreated fibers. This suggests that condemn oil forms a protective layer on the fiber surface, improving its ability to bear loads without compromising flexibility. The study concluded that KOH treated bamboo fibers are better suited for applications requiring high strength and stiffness, such as construction materials or structural composites, while condemn oil treated fi bers are more suitable for applications where both strength and flexibility are needed, such as textiles, packaging, and flexible composites. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of the treatment effects, with ANOVA tests showing clear differenc es between treated and untreated fibers. This research highlights the potential of chemical treatments to enhance the mechanical properties of bamboo fibers for various industrial applications. By tailoring the treatment process, bamboo fibers can be optim ized for specific uses, offering a sustainable and versatile alternative to synthetic materials in industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and textiles. Future work should explore the environmental impact of these treatments and investigate hybrid treatment methods that combine the benefits of both KOH and condemn oil.