Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata): Newly Discovered Natural Fiber with Its Properties and Applications

This review explores the classification, properties, chemical treatments, and applications of Sugar Palm Fiber (SPF) in Malaysia. It discusses its physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics, treatment methods, limitations, and uses in sectors like automotive, construction, packaging, and wastewater treatment, highlighting challenges and future prospects for SPF-based composites.

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass such as sugar palm fiber (SPF) has been applied in industrial applications owing to its abundantly availability, renewability, biodegradability, durability, thermal stability, and high specific strength. SPF typically ranges in diameter from 115.4 to 596.2 µm and comprises 37.3 %–66.5 % cellulose, 4.7 %–21.0 % hemicellulose, 18.9 %–46.4 % lignin, and 0.9 %–6.3 % extractive. Additionally, treatment was proved to significantly affect the physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the SPF. Examples of treatments include alkali, silane, ionic liquid, and acid hydrolysis. Based on the findings, treated SPF has smoother fiber surface, smaller diameter, higher tensile modulus, and tensile strength than untreated SPF. Regarding thermal stability, researchers have found conflicting results, with some finding that untreated SPF has higher thermal stability and initial degradation temperatures due to silica deposition and vice versa. Appropriate treatments for SPF could improve their fiber topography and wettability for better interfacial bonding that contributes to exceptional mechanical properties compared to untreated SPF-reinforced polymer composites.

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