Comprehensive Characterization of Novel Natural Fiber from Bauhinia Variegata Plant

Abstract

This paper presents the chemical, physical, thermal, mechanical along with morphological characterization of novel Bauhinia Variegata (BVR) fiber. The extracted BVR plant fiber has been characterized using X-Ray diffraction (×RD) analysis, Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy. This BVR fiber is found to have alpha cellulose 62.5% with 10.8% hemicellulose and 18.2% lignin and XRD analysis confirms a comparable crystallanity index 51.72% with crystalline size of 27.45 nm. Thermal characteristics of the BVR fiber indicate its stability up to temperature of 345°C and results of morphological study show rough surface suggesting its suitability as reinforcement in making composites. The comparatively less amount of wax and moisture content observed are again advantageous as the fiber bonding with matrix will be improved in the composites. The present research on BVR fiber confirms it to be a right replacement for synthetic fiber as well as few existing natural fibers like jute, flax, hemp, banana, etc., for composite reinforcement.

Keywords

• bauhinia variegata
• novel fiber
• x-ray diffraction
• thermo gravimetric analysis
• ftir
• crystallinity index