Chemical and Chemi-mechanical Processes for Degumming of Ramie Fibre and their Characterization by XRD, FT-IR and Microscopic Methods

Abstract

Decorticated Ramie collected from Ramie Research Station, Sorbhog, Assam, India were degummed, using both chemical and chemi-mechamcal processes. Microstructural and morphological properties or these degummed fibres were studied by XRD, FT-IR and microscopic methods. The crystallinity percentages were found to be 28 and 27 per cent for the

samples chemically treated (M1), and chemi-mechanically treated (M1), respectively. The crystallite sizes were found to be increased in the directions normal to both (002) and (040) reflection planes for the samples M and M 1 from that or decorticated ramie Without treatment (R). Results indicate that these degummed fibres are suitable for use as a raw material for fibre and pulp-paper industries.