Application of taguchi method for selection parameter bleaching treatments against mechanical and physical properties of agave cantala fiber

摘要

The characterized agave cantala fiber in this research came from Sumenep, Madura, Indonesia was chemically processed using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H202) solution. The treatment with both solutions is called bleaching process. Tensile strength test of single fiber was used to get mechanical properties from selecting process of the various parameter are temperature, PH and concentration of H202 with an L9 orthogonal array by Taguchi method. The results indicate that PH is most significant parameter influencing the tensile strength followed by temperature and concentration H202. The influence of bleaching treatment on tensile strength showed increasing of crystallinity index of fiber by 21%. It showed by lost of hemicellulose and lignin layers of fiber can be seen from waveforms changes of 1735 (C=O), 1627 (OH), 1319 (CH2), 1250 (C-O) by FTIR graph. The photo SEM showed that the bleaching of fibers causes the fibers more roughly and clearly than untreated fibers.