01.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Natural fibers in general consist of layers of lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose. The outermost layer of fiber
generally consists of a layer of lignin, the inner layer of the hemicellulose and the innermost cellulose.
Cellulose is the most important part of natural fiber because cellulose has good adhesion properties
with a matrix in the composite's production process. Fibers that have a high percentage of cellulose tend
to have good mechanical properties. Table 2 presents the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin
from natural fibers of grass type. Also displayed is the moisture content of each fiber. Table 2 showed
that some fibers have not been tested to determine chemical properties, including broom grass,
Sansevieria trifasciata, elephant grass, snake grass. This gives an opportunity to carry out further
research. The cellulose content of grass fiber varies from the smallest 43.2 (Arundo donax L) and the
greatest value is 80 (Sansevieria ehrenbergii). The hemicellulose content varies from the smallest of 10
(sisal) to the highest of 33.7 (Corn husk). Lignin content varies from the smallest of 3.44 (Mendong grass)
to the greatest value of 21.63 (Napier grass). The moisture of each fiber varies from 6.08 (Sansevieria
cylindrica) to 11,961 (Corn husk)

Fiber Cellulose Hemicellulose Lignin Moisture

Mondong grass 72.15 20.1 3.44 ______

Sisal 78 10 8 11

Belulang grass 46 33 7 11.36

02. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Natural fiber has advantages compared to glass fiber, one of which is lighter density. Each fiber has a
different density. The measurement of fiber density is measured in several ways. Some researchers use
the Truong method to determine the density of fibers. Fiber density is measured with a pycnometer
using the Archimedes principle, where the volume of fiber dipped in a liquid is equal to the volume of
spilled liquid. an important physical property is fiber diameter. Fiber diameter is needed to determine
the tensile strength of single fiber for each grass fiber. The diameter of grass fibers varies greatly
because of the irregular cross-section shape of the fibers. The diameter of the fiber is measured by
microphotographs with micrometers (µm).

Fiber Density Diameter

Mondong 0.892 388

Sisal 0.76 135

Belulang 1.2138 178

Table 3 contains a comparison of the density and diameter of each grass fiber. From table 3 it is shown
that the density of grass fiber is still smaller than the density of glass fiber, very suitable for light product
applications. The smallest density of corn husk fiber is 0.34 gr/cm3 and the highest density of
Sansevieria trifasciata is 1.4147 gr/cm3. There are 30% of fibers whose density is above 1 gr/cm3, one of
which is belulang grass. The diameter of grass fiber also varies from the smallest namely corn husk of
0.186 µm to the largest namely elephant grass of 400 µm. The fiber diameter value is very useful to
determine the surface area and the tensile strength of a single fiber.

03. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

The tensile test is one of the most widely used material tests. The tensile test is testing of test material
by pulling the material until it breaks.σ is the tensile strength (Mpa) value, F is the force used to pull the
fiber (N), Ao is the cross-sectional area of the fiber (mm2).

Fibers Tensile strength Young modolus Elongation at break

Mondong grass 492 9.4 3.2

Sisal 640 9.4 7

Belulang grass 445 3.68 1.7

The purpose of this tensile test is to determine the tensile strength of the material. The higher the
tensile strength value of a material, the stronger the material, and vice versa. The value of the
mechanical properties of grass fiber can be seen in table 4. The tensile strength value of grass fiber
varies from 445 MPa (belulang grass) to 640 MPa (Sisal). Young's modulus also varies from 3.68 GPa
(Belulang grass) to 9.4 Gpa (mondong grass). Elongation at break also varies from 1.7% (Belulang grass)
to 7% (sidal). Mechanical strength is a combination of the value of tensile strength, the value of young
modulus, and the value o elongation at break. The

of mechanical strength of materials used by designers to design a product in the industry

04. FACTORS AFFECTING FIBER PROPERTIES
There are many factors that effect agro-fiber properties. For example, what part of the plant the fiber
came from, the age of the plant when the fiber was harvested, how the fiber was isolated, and
permeability and hydroscopicity of the plant cell wall. It is well known that different parts of a plant have
different chemical and physical properties. That is, the chemical composition and fiber properties of
plant tissue taken from the roots, stem, trunk, and leaves is different. What is not so well known, is that
the chemical composition and fiber properties of plant tissue are also different at different stages of the
growing season

04. DENSITY OF CELLULOSIC FIBER

One of the physical parameters - density was measured after 28 days of fibre-cement composites
hardening. Fibres were added with different percentages (2 wt. % and 5 wt. % replacement of sand) into
cement mortar composites. Three mixtures of mortar composites were prepared. The first mixture was
prepared without fibres addition, in the second mixture was used hemp hurds and in the third one fibres
from recycled paper were used. In Figure 3 is shown dependence of cellulose fibres amount on density
of composites. It is evident that higher amount of fibres from hemp hurds and waste paper caused
lower density of all specimens in comparison to reference sample RF. Density of composites with fibres
is in the range from 1,981 kg/m3 to 1,864 kg/m3 and for reference sample (without fibres addition) is
2073 kg/m3. Decrease of density values are in the range 4.44 – 10.08 % in comparison with reference
sample, samples with hemp hurds HH (8.88 – 10.08 %); samples with recycled paper RP(4.44 – 5.07).
This is caused by amount of fibres, their nature and physical and chemical characteristics (Kidalova et al.,
2011).

05. REFERENCE
01. Ardanuy M., Claramunt J., Toledo Filho R.D., 2015, Cellulosic fiber reinforced cement-based
composites: A review of recent research, Constr. Build. Mater. 79, 115-128.

02.Bentur A., Mitchell D., 2008, Material performance lessons. Cem. Concr. Res. 38, 259–72.