**3.3.5 Biodegradation of fibres**

The degradable properties of both coated and uncoated OPEFB fibre were monitored through aging in two different soils and in contact with moisture and fungus for about 3 months. Figure 15 shows the effect of fungus in the degradation of the fibre, the black part of the fibre was affected by the fungus. Most part of the uncoated fibres was influenced by fungus and the fungus spread over the surface of the fibres. In comparison the coated fibre was less affected by fungus and it only decayed at the end parts of fibres. Otherwise, the colour of the fibres was shown as the water sorption in the uncoated fibres. Water is the important factor for the growth of the fungus that increased the biodegradation of the fibres.

Fig. 15. Fungus biodegradation of the fibres after 3 month a) Sheet of OPEFB fibre, b) Sheet of coated OPEFB fibre

The degradable properties of both coated and uncoated OPEFB fibre were monitored through aging in two different soils and in contact with moisture and fungus for about 3 months. Figure 15 shows the effect of fungus in the degradation of the fibre, the black part of the fibre was affected by the fungus. Most part of the uncoated fibres was influenced by fungus and the fungus spread over the surface of the fibres. In comparison the coated fibre was less affected by fungus and it only decayed at the end parts of fibres. Otherwise, the colour of the fibres was shown as the water sorption in the uncoated fibres. Water is the important factor for the growth of the fungus that increased the biodegradation of the

Fig. 15. Fungus biodegradation of the fibres after 3 month a) Sheet of OPEFB fibre, b) Sheet

Fig. 14. Tensile test result of MTS fabrics and coated OPEFB sheets

Uncoated fibre Coated fibre

a b

**3.3.5 Biodegradation of fibres** 

fibres.

of coated OPEFB fibre

The fibres were also placed in to the silty sand and peat soil to estimate the weight loss of the fibres in soil. The discrete fibre and fibre sheet were weighed before test. The fibres also were coated with ABS solution for 24 hours and all the specimens were placed on soils for about 3 months.

Figure 16 shows the coated and uncoated OPEFB fibre after aging in the silty sand soil. The fibre sheets decayed after 3 months and it is shown that the uncoated fibre had the separate structure due to the biodegradation of the fibre.The coating was protected the fibres from biodegradation; the shape of the coating fibres was kept.

Fig. 16. a) before decay b) decayed ABS coated c) decayed uncoated fibre sheet in the silty sand soil after 3 months

The same results are shown in Figure 17 for the fibres in organic clay soil. The uncoated sheet fibre in organic clay separated from each other and did not have the textile structure. The uncoated fibre lost its weight due to biodegradation in the soil.

Fig. 17. a) before decay b) decayed ABS coated c) decayed uncoated fibre sheet in the organic clay soil after 3 months

The results of these losses are graphically plotted in Figure 18. Loss of weight of the discrete fibres was higher than the fibre sheet due to their larger contact surface with the soils and environment factors.

The result shows that in all condition coating decreases the biodegradation of the fibres both in discrete fibre and fibre sheet. The decay of the fibres in three conditions had

Application of Thermoplastics in Protection of Natural Fibres 345

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**5. Acknowledgment** 

closely in this project.

www.astm.org.

**6. References** 

approximately the same result. The weight loss result indicate the influence of coating on protecting OPEFB fibres from biodegradation, around 50% decrease on weight loss were estimated from tests after three months.

Fig. 18. Biodegradation of the fibres inside Silty sand, Organic soil and be in contact with fungus after 3 months
