Characterization of Various Properties of Chemically Treated <i>Allium sativum</i> Fiber for Brake Pad Application

Abstract

Allium sativum fiber has a high cellulose content of 69.82% and a low density of 1.32 g/cc. In the present study, various chemical treatments, namely, alkaline, benzoylation, and acetylation were carried out to enhance its properties. The effect of chemical treatments on the fiber and its effect on various properties of the brake pad is studied. Allium sativum raw fiber (ASRaw), alkaline-treated (ASa), benzoylation-treated (ASb), and acetylation treated-fibers (ASac) were reinforced for about 8 wt.% in the brake pads that were manufactured using compression molding and named as AS1, AS2, AS3, and AS4, respectively. The thermal degradation of the fiber is evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and is observed the thermal stability from 340°C to 359°C, 360°C, and 378°C, respectively. From X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was found that acetylation-treated fiber had shown a crystallinity index (CI) of 35.86% with a tensile strength of 723.28 ± 2.7 MPa. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study the organic substance behavior and surface morphology. The physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the brake pads were carried out as per industrial standards.