Effect of Microwave Radiation on the Macromolecular, Morphological and Crystallographic Structures of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) Fibre

The physical properties of natural fibres extracted from plantain (musa paradisiaca) fibres were modified using microwave irradiation under different conditions in terms of power and time. to investigate the effect of this modification, macromolecular parameters of the fibre are characterised by wide angle x-ray diffraction (xrd), fourier transform infra-red (ftir), scanning electron microscope (sem) and thermogravimetric analysis (tga). xrd analysis shows a significant change in the macromolecular and the crystallographic parameters of the fibre, while sem image reveals the serious damaging effect on the surface of the fibre, due to degradation and rupturing of fibre cells at higher power and time of microwave irradiation. ftir spectra confirm that the chemical structure of the microwave treated fibre does not change. thermal analysis shows increase thermal stability at optimised microwave power and time. however, the degradation of the structuralcomponent and crystallinity of the fibre are observed at higher power and higher treatment period.