Characterization of maize stalk cellulose fibers surface morphology and cross- section for geopolymer composite development

One of the critical challenges facing the world today is the substantial accumulation of agricultural residues. To date, there has been no research examining the impact of NaOH treatment on the surface morphology and cross-section of individual cellulose fibers from maize stalks. This study aims to explore how NaOH treatment affects the surface morphology and cross-sectional area of cellulose fibers derived from maize stalks. The retting process was utilized for fiber extraction, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was to observe the surface. Additionally, the surface roughness was assessed from SEM micrographs using image J software. Microscope micrographs were obtained from the hole after extracting fiber from a chosen sample to examine its cross-sectional profile. The micrographs clearly depicts the irregular, non-circular cross-section of these natural fibers, which exhibit a polygonal shape, lacking uniformity along their length. The SEM image revealed a rough surface, with a roughness average (Ra) ranging from 20.5 μm to 28.01 μm. These findings indicate that the fiber’s surface morphology has been altered due to sodium hydroxide treatment, which also significantly decreased the fibers’ hydrophilic properties. This modified fiber can be utilized in the development of geopolymer composite materials, enhancing mechanical interlocking at the interface with the geopolymer matrix