Properties of nano-particle TiO2 treated natural fibre exposed to estuarine environment

Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted to quantify absorption and mechanical properties of manila rope treated with nanoparticle TiO2 and exposed to marine environment for 14 days. Importance parameters such as break force, break strain, break displacement were recorded using Universal Testing Machine. A peaked absorption of 1.48 at 319 nm and 1.15 at 309 nm wavelengths was observed for 0.03 per cent and 0.05 per cent. Manila rope treated with 0.05 per cent recorded maximum break force of 139.54 kN with breaking strain at 14.99 per cent. Samples were treated with 0.03 per cent TiO2. The maximum and minimum break force ranging from 135.20- 142.1 kN was evaluated. Study results observed decrease in break force corresponding to increase in TiO2 concentrations. Break force of manila rope treated with 0.01 per cent TiO2 also yield greater tensile property ranging between 158.98-193.74 kN. Properties of break force, break strain and break displacement, ranges from 152.47-207.15 kN, 15.54-18.19 per cent, 155.44-181.96 mm. Break strain and break displacement had lowest values of mechanical properties at 0.03 per cent concentration. Present study was an attempt to find replacement probability of synthetic fibre with natural fibre to combat the critical problems of current marine environments.