Steffi Gizelle F. Jamolin, Hazel Renacido, Dawn Iva Satumbaga, Fides Jr. Ybañez (March 2007)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The pineapple plant can be used in many ways including being woven into fine native clothing; however, coarser fibers are also utilized and made into useful ropes and twines. Over the years, both professionals and natives have been using different types of chemical processes to enhance the fibers’ strength, durability, and quality. Some of these processes are peroxide bleaching, alkaline boiling, river-water soaking, vinegar-soap mixture soaking, and water soaking.
This study aimed to determine and compare the pull strengths and abrasion resistances of coarse pineapple fibers after being exposed to the five different chemical processes mentioned above. To achieve this, the study involved treating the fibers with the five processes and having them subjected to a pull strength and abrasion resistance test.
The leaves used were obtained from a plantation in Aklan just before the age of fruit bearing. The fibers were then extracted using the natural hand-stripping method and twined into one-meter-long bundles. the fibers were then treated with equal amounts of Central Philippines University for pull-strength testing. Abrasion resistance tests were done in school using a TTI standardized machine.
Peroxide bleaching was found to produce fibers with the highest values for both parameters. It was also found out that a significant difference exists among the pull strength and abrasion resistance values of coarse pineapple fibers treated with five different chemical processes. Statistical analysis was done to interpret result (p=0.004, α=0.05)