Typha Leaves Fiber and Its Composites: A Review

Abstract

Typha is a semi-aquatic plant and an important member of wetlands around all over the world. This plant can be considered as a source of long leaf fibers. In this review, the works done in the last decade on the Typha leaf fiber extraction and its characteristics have been reviewed. Furthermore, the applications of the Typha fiber as a reinforcing material in the composite have been addressed. The Typha fiber properties are shown to be dependent on the extraction methods. The long cellulose fibers can be extracted from the Typha leaves using water retting and chemical treatments. The water-extracted Typha leaf fiber shows poor interlocking with the polymer matrix due to the high presence of waxy and non-cellulosic on the fiber surface. However, the alkali treatments of fibers could improve the composite properties. Typha fibers with low density (1.26 g/cm3), 47–67% cellulose content and 60–65% crystallinity, as well as 8.5–10% moisture regain and 25–40 cN/tex tensile strength, could be developed. In addition to these good properties, high thermal stability and low thermal conductivities (0.137 W/m. K) could lead to considering Typha fibers as a suitable alternative to expensive natural fibers and synthetic fibers in various polymer composites.

Keywords

• cellulose fiber
• composite
• natural fiber
• typhaceae
• thermal stability