A STUDY OF THERMAL STABILITY AND ACTIVATION ENERGY ON NATURAL FIBRES FOR BIOCOMPOSITES APPLICATION

Natural fibres are bio based material, because these offers real alternative to the synthetic fibres and also abundantly available in nature although problem free disposals. The natural fibres are used as reinforcing phase in composite materials. In this project work first chemical treatment of natural fibres with 5% of Naoh solution of certain weight of the fibre are carried out. After chemical treatment the physical properties like density, microscopic structural analysis, water absorption, moisture content and moisture regain, analysis are carried out for fibres like treated and untreated areca, coir, jute and sisal fibres. Further TGA analysis of the fibres carried out to find thermal stability of both treated and untreated fibres. From the TGA analysis, the treated fibres are thermally stable than the untreated fibres. Activation energy of both treated and untreated fibres are calculated by using DTG curves based on non-isothermal model free method (Kissinger method). The activation energy of treated fibres is ranged from 170-260 kJ/mol and of untreated fibre ranged from 105-160kJ/mol. Both physical and thermal analysis of natural fibres is helpful for developing a basic approach to know the thermal decomposition characteristics of these fibres in the bio composites production.