Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Cellulosic Fiber Extracted from the Bark of Albizia Saman

ABSTRACT

The environmental threats posed by manmade composites during their disposal and depletion of fossil fuel resources have necessitated the application of ecofriendly materials for composite making. In the recent decades, many plant fibers with promising potentials required for reinforcing composites have been identified and used for various applications. In this paper, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties in addition to chemical composition of novel lignocellulosic fiber extracted from the bark of Albizia saman (AS) have been reported. Chemical tests on ASFs revealed the presence of high cellulose and lignin contents (60.76% and 14.64%), which contributes significantly to the strength and rigidity of the AS fiber. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction study confirmed the presence of cellulose with high degree of crystallinity (57.69%) and crystallite size (2.85 nm). Thermal stability of ASFs studied through Thermogravimetric, Derivative Thermogravimetric, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry curves revealed the maximum degradation of ASFs as 306.19°C with kinetic activation energy (KAE) of 64.01 kJ/mol. The tensile strength and tensile strain of ASFs was found to be to be in the range 381–1092 MPa and 1.65–4.42%, respectively, and the value of tensile modulus was found to be 9.68–42.31 GPa. From the results, it can be concluded that ASFs possess the essential characteristics required for reinforcing composites and hence can be suitably used for making green composites.

摘要

人造复合材料在处置过程中对环境造成的威胁和化石燃料资源的枯竭, 使得生态友好型复合材料的应用成为必然. 近几十年来, 许多植物纤维作为复合材料的增强材料被广泛应用. 本文报道了从合欢皮中提取的新型木质纤维的物理, 力学, 热性能和化学组成. 对ASFs的化学测试表明, ASFs中纤维素和木质素含量较高 (分别为60.76%和14.64%), 这对AS纤维的强度和刚度有显著影响. FT-IR和X射线衍射研究证实了纤维素的存在, 其结晶度为57.69%, 晶粒尺寸为2.85nm. 通过热重, 导数热重和差示扫描量热曲线研究了ASFs的热稳定性, 发现ASFs的最大降解量为306.19°动力学活化能 (KAE) 为64.01kj/mol. 结果表明, ASFs的拉伸强度为381～1092mpa, 拉伸应变为1.65～4.42%, 拉伸模量为9.68～42.31GPa. 结果表明, ASFs具有增强复合材料所需的基本特性, 可用于制备绿色复合材料.

KEYWORDS:

• Albizia Saman fiber
• Cellulose
• Chemical analysis
• Crystallinity index
• Thermal stability

关键词:

• 合欢纤维
• 纤维素
• 化学分析
• 结晶度指数
• 热稳定性

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely appreciate the, South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Erode, Tamilnadu, India and University College of Engineering, Tindivanam, Anna university, Tamil Nadu, India for their kind permission to prepare and test the composite samples in their laboratories/workshops. The authors thank the final year students of Government Polytechnic College, Arakandanallur Post, Tirukoilur Taluk Villupuram - 605 752 for rendering their support for carrying out this research The authors sincerely appreciate the, South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Erode, Tamilnadu, India and University College of Engineering, Tindivanam, Anna university, Tamil Nadu, India for their kind permission to prepare and test the composite samples in their laboratories/workshops. The authors thank the final year students of Government Polytechnic College, Arakandanallur Post, Tirukoilur Taluk Villupuram - 605 752 for rendering their support for carrying out this research work.