Cellulosic Microfiber Extraction from Ecofriendly Bahunia Racemosa and Its Characterization

Abstract

Recent demand of eco-friendly advanced materials for automotive components motivated to develop natural fiber-reinforced composites due to their extraordinary properties with minimum weight at low cost. The reinforcement of microcellulosic extracted from lignocellulosic materials can enhance the mechanical properties with astonishing the biodegradability quality in the polymer-based composites. Bahunia racemosa (BR) fibers were chosen to extract cellulose microfibers through chemo-mechanical method and the chemical compositions at different stages are determined by using ASTM standards. The average diameter of the extracted cellulose micro Bahunia racemosa fibers (CMBRF) found as 10 μm. The microfiber composites are fabricated at different weight fractions such as 20, 30, 40 and 50 by compression molding method. Surface properties of the produced fibers and fabricated composite structures are analyzed through microscopic techniques. The influence of reinforcement effect on the mechanical properties of fabricated composite structures is analyzed through standard testing methods. The composites reinforced with 40 wt% of cellulose microfibers exhibited highest enhancement about the tensile strength and young modulus of 80.25 and 40%, respectively. The proposed composites can be used to make various low cost, light weight composite materials for industrial and construction industries.

Keywords

• natural fiber
• composites
• bahunia racemosa
• cellulose microfiber