Tensile behaviours of the coir fibre and related composites after NaOH treatment

Brown coir fibres were treated by NaOH solution with concentrations from 2% to 10% separately. Tensile strength of the alkali-treated fibres was measured. A decreased trend of the fibre tensile strength with increased NaOH density was found. Laminated coir fibre net was used as the reinforcement and polypropylene as the matrix to fabricate the composites with a heat press. The tensile strength of the samples was shown. In the case of NaOH...