The Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on Chemical and Morphological Properties of Hansan Ramie Fibers

The purpose of this study investigates the effects of electron beam(EB) irradiation on the chemical and morphological properties of Hansan ramie fiber. Hansan ramie fibers were irradiated with electron beam doses of 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10kGy. The effect of electron beam irradiation on the chemical components of fibers as well as the surface chemical and morphological properties were investigated using chemical component analysis methods based on TAPPI standards, XPS, and SEM. The results indicate that the surface layers can be removed under suitable EB irradiation doses. Alcohol-benzene extraction and lignin content increases gradually with an increase in EB irradiation and reaching a maximum at an EB dose of 3kGy, and decreases at 10kGy. The surface chemical changes measured by XPS corresponded to the chemical composition analysis results. The C1 peak and the O/C ratio decreased with the removal of the multi-layer and primary layer by EB irradiation. The SEM images show the inter-fibrillar structure etched by EB irradiation up to 5kGy. At 10kGy, the surface structure of the ramie fiber shows highly aligned and distinctive striations in a longitudinal direction. The removal of these exterior layers of the fiber was confirmed by changes in surface morphology as observed in SEM images.