PROCESS FOR STRENGTHENING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF A PLANT FIBER

摘要

The invention relates to a method for reinforcing the mechanical properties of a plant fiber comprising the application of axial tensile stresses on the plant fiber, the tensile stresses applied being between 1% and 70%, preferably 10% of the fracture stress of the plant fiber and the relative humidity level in the air surrounding the plant fiber is initially that of ambient relative humidity (HRa), then possibly decreased to a value (HR1) of plus 20% relative humidity, then increased to a value (HR2) between 75% and 100%, preferably between 80% to 95% and very preferably at 90% relative humidity and then decreased to a value (HR3) of at most 25%, preferably between 5% and 20% and very preferably at 10% relative humidity. The invention also relates to the use of this method for reinforcing the mechanical properties of plant fibers and plant fibers that can be obtained by this method.