Pineapple leaf fibers and PALF-reinforced polymer composites

• Main Authors: Salit, Mohd. Sapuan, Mohamed, Abd. Rahman, Siregar, Januar Parlaungan, Ishak, Mohd. Ridzuan
• Other Authors: Susheel, Kalia
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Springer-Verlag 2011
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/2837/4/Cellulose_Fibers.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/2837/; http://www.springer.com/chemistry/polymer+science/book/978-3-642-17369-1
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) have long been known as textile materials in many countries. Despite being mechanically excellent and environmentally sound, PALF are the least-studied natural fibers, especially for reinforcing composites. This article presents a survey of research works carried out on PALF and PALF-reinforced composites. It reviews PALF extraction, fiber characterization, and PALF applications, modification of PALF, and manufacture and properties of PALF-reinforced composites. With increasing importance of pineapple and pineapple plantation area, value-added applications of PALF as reinforcing fibers in polymer composites must be developed in order to increase “resource potential” of pineapple and consequently energize the utilization of PALF.