The Effect of Alkaline Treatment to Pseudo-Stem Banana Fibers on the Performance of Polylactic Acid/ Banana Fiber Composite

Banana fiber (BF) is a renewable resource which can be good reinforcer to polylactic acid, enhancing the polymers stiffness and accelerating biodegradability rates. However, due difference in nature between banana fibers (hydrophilic) acid (hydrophobic), adhesion matrix cannot achieved. To tackle problem, were chemically treated using sodium hydroxide under three factors (temperature, concentration, treatment time). The interactions given by response surface methodology statistical observed ANOVA. Alkaline effect on fiber’s morphology, composition, mechanical, morphological properties of composites produced observed. Young’s modulus values have increased substantially compared untreated composites, with slight increase tensile strength values. elongation at break slightly dropped alkaline treatment. Scanning electron microscope observations had shown successful removal impurities (e.g. hemicellulose, wax) strands, an improvement structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed impurities, interaction PLA fibers.