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Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant that grows rapidly in dense mats, reducing light and oxygen in waterways. It originated in South America but has spread globally, negatively impacting biodiversity, transportation, fishing, and irrigation. The plant contains air-filled tissue giving it buoyancy and reproduces asexually through runners and rhizomes. One study found that using short water hyacinth fibers as a filler in natural rubber increased hardness and modulus compared to rubber without filler, though tensile strength and abrasion resistance decreased due to poor adhesion between the fibers and rubber. Treating the fibers with a coupling agent improved adhesion and several mechanical properties.

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159 views3 pages

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant that grows rapidly in dense mats, reducing light and oxygen in waterways. It originated in South America but has spread globally, negatively impacting biodiversity, transportation, fishing, and irrigation. The plant contains air-filled tissue giving it buoyancy and reproduces asexually through runners and rhizomes. One study found that using short water hyacinth fibers as a filler in natural rubber increased hardness and modulus compared to rubber without filler, though tensile strength and abrasion resistance decreased due to poor adhesion between the fibers and rubber. Treating the fibers with a coupling agent improved adhesion and several mechanical properties.

Uploaded by

Atom Bacon
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2.2.1.2.1.

1 Water Hyacinth Fibers Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant which can live and reproduce floating freely on the surface of fresh waters or can be anchored in mud. Plant size ranges from a few inches to a meter in height. Its rate of proliferation under certain circumstances is extremely rapid and it can spread to cause infestations over large areas of water causing a variety of problems. It grows in mats up to 2 meters thick which can reduce light and oxygen, change water chemistry, affect flora and fauna and cause significant increase in water loss due to evapotranspiration. It also causes practical problems for marine transportation, fishing and at intakes for hydro power and irrigation schemes. It is now considered a serious threat to biodiversity (Herfjord, et al., 1994).

The plant originated in the Amazon Basin and was introduced into many parts of the world as an ornamental garden pond plant due to its beauty. It has proliferated in many areas and can now be found on all continents apart from Europe. It is particularly suited to tropical and sub-tropical climates and has become a problem plant in areas of the southern USA, South America, East, West and Southern Africa, South and South East Asia and Australia. Its spread throughout the world has taken place over the last 100 years or so, although the actual course of its spread is poorly documented. In the last 10 years the rapid spread of the plant in many parts of Africa has led to great concern (Herfjord, et al., 1994).

The plant is a perennial aquatic herb (Eichhornia crassipes) which belongs to the family Pontedericeae, closely related to the Liliaceae (lily family). The mature plant consists of long, pendant roots, rhizomes, stolons, leaves, inflorescences and fruit clusters. The plants are up to 1 meter high although 40cm is the more usual height. The inflorescence bears 6 - 10 lily-like flowers, each 4 - 7cm in diameter. The stems and leaves contain air-filled tissue which give the plant its considerable buoyancy. The vegetation reproduction is asexual and takes place at a rapid rate under preferential conditions. (Herfjord, et al., 1994).

2.2.1.2.1.1.1 Water Hyacinth Fibers as a Filler in Natural Rubber Short water-hyacinth fiber was used as a filler in natural rubber. In terms of mechanical properties, it was found that the hardness and the modulus of the rubber products mixed with water-hyacinth fiber were superior to those without the fiber. On the other hand, the tensile strength and the abrasion resistance were decreased, especially in the case of untreated fiber. The amount and the particle size of the fiber also affected the mechanical properties of the rubber products. When the amount and particle size of the fiber were increased, the hardness and modulus of the products would

increase, whereas the tensile strength and abrasion resistance would decrease. The decline in these mechanical properties was probably due to the poor adhesion between the rubber and the fiber. This can be confirmed by the microscopy study since it was clearly noticed that the rubber and the fiber were adhered together mostly via physical bonding. In order to increase bonding between the rubber and fiber, the fiber was treated with a coupling agent before mixing. The effect of the coupling agent was clearly exhibited since several mechanical properties were remarkably improved when the treated fiber was employed. Moreover, in this experiment, some common reinforcing agents, such as carbon black, have not been used. Mechanical properties might be improved in their presence. Considering the overall properties, it can be concluded that the water-hyacinth reinforced natural rubber can be used in some applications when hardness and modulus is of importance, for example floor covering, shoe soles, or machine mounting. This will increase the market value of natural rubber, also reducing the water pollution caused by water-hyacinth plants (P. Potiyaraj, 2001).

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