The Effects of Gum Arabic Matrix on the Hardness and Water Absorption of Agro-Based (Banana Pseudostem) Hybrid Composites

This study investigated the effects of gum Arabic and banana pseudostem sap matrix in a 50-50 mix on the water absorption and hardness of a composite reinforced with banana pseudostem ash nanoparticles. The banana pseudostem fibre was first treated with a 0.5% sodium hydroxide solution and dried at room temperature. The treated fibres were then calcinated in a muffle furnace at 800 °C to produce banana pseudostem ash, which was subsequently reduced to nanoparticle size using a ball mill. The resulting ash was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Composite samples were produced by integrating the banana pseudostem ash as a reinforcement material with a gum Arabic matrix at various mix ratios, and the physical properties of hardness and water absorption were tested. The characterization results confirmed the ash's suitability for reinforcement, showing a crystalline structure largely composed of hanksite (72.9%). The tests on the composite samples revealed that the reinforcement materials improved the hardness of the composites. However, the percentage of water absorbed also increased as the filler content was increased.