DOI: 10.36347/sjet.2018.v06i08.002

Pages: 250-260

This paper estimated the best route towards establishing the ultimate tensile strength of biofibres in this case, fibres of plantain pseudo stem, through the applications of strand of fibres and single fibre strand. These biofibres were extracted from the stem of harvested plantain tree through environmentally friendly biological retting and subjected to surface modifications of mercerization and acetylation. As strength of any engineering material has always been a criterion to determine its applicability in a particular engineering situation. All tensile strength experiments in this work were carried out in accordance with ASTM D3822-01. Through single strand tests, the performance enhanced biofibres were obtained at 2% NaOH concentration, 10% Acetic Anhydride concentration treatment at 50oC acetylation temperature and dried at 80oC oven temperature. Also the tensile properties of the developed biofibre when compared with other biofibres and e-glass fibre showed tremendous improvement in strength and modulus. This developed biofibre has wonderful properties that make it qualify to be applied as a reinforcement of polymer matrices or any other matrix for formation of engineering composite materials.