The effect of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF) incorporation into Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) on FTIR, morphology and wetting properties

• Published in: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
• Main Author: Abdul Aziz F.M.; Surip S.N.; Bonnia N.N.; Sekak K.A.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2018
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041651045&doi=10.1088%2f1755-1315%2f105%2f1%2f012082&partnerID=40&md5=fbac342bcdf4ca8258b1c0c1b67603fd

Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PALF) which is rich in cellulose, relatively inexpensive and abundantly available has the potential for polymer reinforcement. In this study, Polyethylene Terephthalatate (PET) was added with PALF and electro-spinned. The resulting mats were compared with PET neat electrospun. The samples later were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and contact angle (CA). Briefly, SEM results indicated that the present of fibers led to a tendency of lower average fiber diameter compared to the PET neat. Two distinct fiber networks with intersecting fibers were observed in PALF/PET. One networks probably corresponds to PET and the others to PALF. FTIR analysis shows the intensity peak represent carbonyl at ∼3400cm-1 and ester at ∼1100 cm-1 decreased. It is suggested interaction occurred between lone pair of oxygen in the group with hydrogen group in PALF. New peak were observed at 3400 cm-1 in PALF/PET that indicated present of hydrogen bonding as well as its hydrophilic tendancy. The contact angle of PET signify high average value 1560 that comes with hydrophobic properties compared to PALF/PET with average value 160 with more hydrophilic properties. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.