Obijiaku, J. C.Kamalu, C. I. O.Osoka, E. C.,Onyelucheya, O. E.Uzondu, F. N.Obibuenyi, J. I.2025-05-132025-05-132015-12Obijiaku, J. C., Kamalu, C. I. O., Osoka, E. C., Onyelucheya, O. E., Uzondu F. N. & Obibuenyi, J. I. (2015). Effects of extraction techniques on the yield and mechanical properties of empty plantain fruit bunch fibers. International Journal of Engineerg and Management Research, 5(6), 494 - 500e-2250-0758p-2394-6962https://repository.futo.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14562/1865A research article with figures and tablesTwo major techniques; water retting and dew retting, were used to extract natural fiber from empty plantain fruit bunch. Four different size categories each comprising of a group of six (6) bunches were used for the water retting experiments and two size categories each of six (6) bunch samples were used for the dew retting experiments. Results for the water retting experiment showed that the fiber yield is enhanced by the addition of a load/weights on the retting bunch and the bunch size, while results for the dew retting revealed that fiber yield is dependent on both retting time and bunch size. Results of statistical analysis produced optimum yield value of 85.95% with a maximum dded weight of 5kg and bunch diameter size of 4cm for the water retting, and for dew retting, an optimum yield value of 60.38% for the bigger bunch size of 5.5cm when extracted on the same day of harvest. Mechanical tests on fiber from the two techniques showed better mechanical properties for the water retting categories with a maximum tensile strength of 823.295N/mm2 and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 644.318N/mm2. The fiber extracted finds use in the manufacture of reinforced composite materials which are fast replacing the use of metallic and plastic materials, due to the quest for materials that are light and cheap, yet strong.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalEmpty plantain fruit bunch fiberswater rettingdew rettingyieldmechanical propertiesstatistical modelsDepartment of Chemical EngineeringArticle