This paper focuses on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of corn husk fibers treated with different concentrations of NaOH (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, and 8%) for 2 h. The results show that treatment with NaOH removed the hemicellulose and lignin in the fibers and decreased the moisture content. Consequently, the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the treated fibers were greatly improved. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the presence of rough surfaces and a number of lumens inside the fiber bundles. The results suggest that the treated corn husk fibers exhibited better mechanical properties than fiberglass.

Oriental Journal of Chemistry is a peer reviewed quarterly research journal of pure and applied chemistry. It publishes standard research papers in almost all thrust areas of current chemistry of academic and commercial importance. It provides a platform for rapid publication of quality research papers, reviews and chemistry letters. Oriental Journal of Chemistry is abstracted and indexed in almost all reputed National and International agencies.

This study investigates the acoustical and nonacoustical properties of composites using corn husk fiber (CHF) and unsaturated polyester as the sound-absorbing materials. The influence of the volume fraction of CHF on acoustic performance was experimentally investigated. In addition, the nonacoustical properties, such as air-flow resistivity, porosity, and mechanical properties of composites have been analyzed. The results show that the sound absorptions at low frequencies are determined by the number of lumens in fiber, particularly the absorption coefficient, which increases the amount of fiber. For high-frequency sound, the absorption coefficient is determined by the arrangement of fibers in the composite. An absorption coefficient is close to zero when the fibers are arranged in a conventional pattern; however, when they are arranged in a random pattern, a high absorption coefficient can be obtained. The bond interface between the fiber and resin enhances its mechanical properties, which increases the longevity of the composite panel.

Natural cellulose fibers have a great potential for the development of new alternative reinforcement materials that are used in various polymer composite applications. In this study, waru tree trunk fiber was extracted and treated with NaOH and Silane. Meanwhile, the characteristics of chemical, morphological, mechanical, and fiber surfaces were determined through composition analysis, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and single fiber test. The results showed that the cellulose content increased with the addition of silane treatment which was supported by the high crystalline index of 63.02% waru bark fiber. Based on this treatment, the tensile strength of the single fiber had the highest value of 243.94 Mpa. Therefore, this fiber has the potential as a new reinforcement development in polymer-based products.

This research focuses on the development of a sustainable acoustic material comprising natural fibers of corn husk that were alkali modified by 1%, 2%, 5%, and 8% NaOH. The morphology and the acoustical, physical, and mechanical properties of the resulting fibers were experimentally investigated. Five different types of sample were produced in panel form, the acoustical properties of which were studied using a two-microphone impedance tube test. The porosity, tortuosity, and airflow resistivity of each panel were investigated, tensile tests were conducted, and the morphological aspects were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy. The sound absorption and tensile properties of the treated panels were better than those of raw fiber panels; the treated panels were of high airflow resistivity and had low porosity. Scanning electron micrographs of the surfaces of the corn husk fibers revealed that the different sound absorption properties of these panels were due to roughness and the lumen structures.