Characterization Studies on New Natural Cellulosic Fiber Extracted from the Bark of Erythrina variegata

Abstract

This research was aimed at investigating the physicochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of newly identified cellulosic fiber extracted from the bark of Erythrina variegata (EV) tree. The chemical analysis of EVFs revealed the existence of high cellulose (50.64 wt.%) and lignin content (17.44 wt.%) which in turn makes the fiber rigid and strong. Crystallinity index and crystallite size of EVFs determined through X-ray diffraction analysis were found to be 51.80% and 3.00 nm. High onset temperature for hemicellulose degradation (227.99°C) and high activation energy (74.05 kJ/mol) confirms the thermal stability of EVFs. The tensile strength and young’s modulus of EVF were found to be 503.2315 ± 202.23 MPa and 7.62 ± 2.91 GPa. The FESEM micrographs of EVFs revealed the existence of a rough fiber surface, which facilitate better interfacial adhesion with the polymer matrix.

Keywords

• erythrina variegata
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties
• chemical constituent
• cellulose fiber
• scanning electronic microscopy