IR and X‐ray diffraction studies of raw and chemically treated pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)

Abstract

Abstract IR and X‐ray diffraction studies have been carried out on raw and chemically treated pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). The degree of crystallinity, as found by X‐ray diffraction and the crystallinity index as found by infrared methods, decreases on treatment with NaOH and NaClO 2 solutions. The decrease of crystallinity with lower concentration of NaOH is attributed to the conversion of intermediate or semicrystalline regions to amorphous ones and with higher concentration to structural changes and with NaClO 2 solution to the disorientation caused due to removal of cementing material lignin.