Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Influence of Growth Location and Extraction Method on the Properties of Cameroonian <i>Musa acuminata</i> Leaf Vein Fibers
 
research article

Influence of Growth Location and Extraction Method on the Properties of Cameroonian Musa acuminata Leaf Vein Fibers

Fokam, Maurane Gaelle Fokam  
•
Fokam, Christian Bopda
•
Chengoue, Anatole Mbouyap
Show more
December 31, 2025
Journal Of Natural Fibers

Banana plants form an abundant source of agricultural waste, which can be exploited to extract fibers. Whereas the trunk and pseudo-stem are currently exploited, leaf ribs, which are several meters long, could form a valuable source of fibers for use in structural composite materials, if their properties, reproducibility across locations, and extraction methods are well adapted. Thus, leaf ribs of the Grande Naine cultivar of Musa acuminata were collected in Cameroon in High Penja plantation in the Littoral Region, and a rural plantation in the Centre Region. Fibers were extracted using water retting, water boiling and caustic soda to assess the role of extraction on properties. The fibers had a density, appearance, chemical composition, and thermal degradation close to those of other banana fibers, an average length over 2 m, and 125-150 mu m range diameters. Water boiling and soda treatment led to increased tensile properties, in the 15 GPa range for Young's modulus and 350-400 MPa failure strength. A Weibull statistical analysis of the fiber failure revealed a slight influence of the growth location, and a major influence of the fiber extraction method, with the water boiling method showing a good balance between properties and ease of extraction. (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)High Penja(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)Grande Naine(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)2(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)125-150(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)15GPa(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)350-400MPa(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)Weibull(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Influence of Growth Location and Extraction Method on the Properties of Cameroonian Musa acuminata Leaf Vein Fibers.pdf

Type

Main Document

Version

Published version

Access type

openaccess

License Condition

CC BY

Size

8.17 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

1bebfc6ec26d304abab89ead0680a242

Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés