Physical, Chemical, Thermal and Surface Characterization of Cellulose Fibers Derived from Vachellia Nilotica Ssp. Indica Tree Barks

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the fibers extorted from the bark of Vacheilla nilotica ssp indica tree. Physical studies conducted on the fibers showed that the density of the fibers was 1.375 gm/cm3 with their chemical composition containing 60.3% cellulose, 5.76% hemicellulose and 25.24% lignin. Wax, moisture and ash content present in the fibers were 0.63%, 6.95% and 1.12% respectively. FTIR spectrum proved the presence of functional groups pertaining to biopolymers. X-ray diffraction studies on the fibers showed crystalline index, degree of crystallinity and crystallite size as 57.66%, 70.26% and 2.27 nm respectively. Apparent activation energy of the fibers was 59.17 kJ/mol as derived from Broido’s plot and the fibers subsist 225°C without degradation. Tensile strength, percent elongation and Young’s modulus of the fibers were found as 242 ± 19MPa, 2.06 ± 0.07% and 11.76 ± 0.58GPa respectively. SEM images ascertained the rough fiber surface and the roughness parameters such as average roughness, root mean square roughness, skewness and kurtosis of the fibers were observed as 56.9668 nm, 78.5079 nm, 0.45906 and 3.57799 respectively from the atomic force microscope images. The study culminates that the physical, chemical, thermal and surface characteristics are comparable with other cellulose fibers.

Keywords

• vachellia nilotica ssp indica fibers
• ftir analysis
• xrd diffraction
• thermo-gravimetric analysis
• tensile strength
• surface morphology