Chemical and Thermal Properties of Different Type of Indonesian Ramie Fibers
摘要
Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is an alternative Indonesian fiber and expected to replace imported cotton. An understanding of the chemical components and thermal properties of ramie will facilitate the application of ramie fibers. This study aims to determine the chemical component and thermal properties of bark ramie, decorticated ramie, Ina-grass ramie, degummed ramie 1, degummed ramie 2, and bleached ramie fiber. Chemical component was evaluated by Py-GCMS and wet-chemical analysis, meanwhile thermal properties was determined by TGA and DSC analysis. Py-GCMS results shown pyrolysis products originated from carbohydrates and lignin. The bark of ramie showed a lower carbohydrate, about 53.16%. Meanwhile, total carbohydrate of ramie and degummed fiber samples are above 90%. Similar result was shown by wet-chemical analysis, wherein the total carbohydrate for bark, de-corticated, Ina-grass, degummed ramie 1, degummed ramie 2 and bleached are 76.29%, 97.62%, 96.78%, 99.15%, 97.63%, and 98.92%, respectively. A slight higher Py-GCMS results than that of the wet-analysis may be due no-preparation needed on sample. Thermal properties shown that bleached ramie has the lowest thermal properties at 600 °C with the lowest lignin content. In the future, Indonesian ramie with high thermal properties can be used as an alternative fiber for composite and biomaterial products.