Effect of surface treatments on the cross-section area and on the tensile properties of sisal fibers

This work deals with the effect that surface treatments can cause on the cross-section and on the tensile properties of sisal fibers. The simplest treatment of washing in tap water, at room temperature and at 60°C, was compared with mercerization treatment. The observed variation of the tensile properties is partially due to modifications caused at the cross section of the fibers due to the treatments, and also by structural modifications caused by removing fiber’s constituents or by promoting structural modifications due to shrinking of cell wall. Although much more aggressive to the environment mercerization was much more effective to enhance the mechanical properties of the fiber.