The Effect of Alkali Treatment on the Crystallinity, Thermal Stability, and Surface Roughness of Bamboo Fibers

The bamboo fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to investigate the impacts of the NaOH concentration, reaction temperature, and soaking time on the crystallinity, thermal stability, and surface roughness of bamboo fibers. The results revealed that the NaOH concentration had a significant impact (0.01 < P < 0.05) on the crystallinity and thermal stability of bamboo fibers, as well as an extremely significant impact (P < 0.01) on their surface roughness. It was found an extremely significant (P < 0.01) effect of the reaction temperature in the crystallinity and surface roughness of bamboo fibers but not in thermal stability. The soaking time significantly (P < 0.01) affected the surface roughness of bamboo fibers, whereas no significant effects were observed for the crystallinity and thermal stability. Compared with untreated bamboo fibers, the crystallinity, thermal stability, and surface roughness of alkali-treated bamboo fibers generally increased.