Sugarcane Fiber Composite Rope Making Machine

Abstract

Wastes in sugar production are recycled into fiber composites as a material in making ropes. A machine is designed, fabricated and tested to produce a sugarcane composite rope. The machine consists of a twisting quarter, matrix storage, stationary and rotational frame. The waste sugarcane fibers are filled into the feeders in the twisting quarter. As the fibers past through the matrix storage from the twisting quarter, it is mixed with wood glue solution as a matrix. Then, the fiber rope is collected to the bobbin. With an electric motor power rating of one-half horsepower, the machine produces a rope of 60 cm in length per minute with a diameter of 18 mm. The specimens used are sugarcane fibers, abaca fibers, and a composition of both fibers with wood glue solution as a matrix. The specimens were prepared by changing volume fraction and were tested for mechanical properties such as tensile and physical properties such as crystallinity. The composite consisting of 100% volume of sugarcane fibers with wood glue solution (2.1kN), and 67% volume of sugarcane fibers and 33% volume of abaca fibers with wood glue solution (2.1kN) as the maximum tensile strength compared to 100% volume of sugarcane fibers without wood glue solution (2.0kN), and 67% volume of sugarcane fibers and 33% volume of abaca fibers without wood glue solution (2.0kN). The present results would help develop natural fibers.