Extraction and Characterization of Natural Aquatic Plant Fiber, Powder and Ash from Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Reinforcement of Fiber, Powder, and Ash Reinforced Polymer Composite

ABSTRACT

Recently, utilization of fibers from aquatic natural plants is widely adopted due to their performance, cost effectiveness, availability, and its properties. Hyacinth plant contains 65% of cellulose content and 0.416 to 0.965 g cm⁻³ particle density. This paper focuses on various applications of utilizing aquatic weed water hyacinth (WH) plant into plant powder, ash, and fibers as the reinforcement of composite materials for commercial applications. The average tensile, flexural, and impact strength of WH dried plant powder and ash composites of hyacinth plant fibers are 17.4, 23.8 and 28.4 MPa; 32.6, 46.4, and 56.5 MPa; 0.05, 0.06, and 0.20 J with 30 wt% of primary reinforcement. The essential chemical functional group was identified through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method. With the help of XRD characterization, the crystallinity index of WH fiber, powder, and ash composites was determined at 58%, 64% and 66%. The morphological structure of its surface was investigated through scanning electron microscope. Based on the analytical results derived from mechanical and characterization studies, it has been found that WH can be a best alternative for bio-composites or fiber-reinforced polymer composites for light weight material applications.

摘要

近年来, 水生天然植物纤维由于其性能、 成本效益、可用性及其特性而被广泛采用. 风信子植物含有65%的纤维素含量和0.416至0.965cm⁻³的颗粒密度. 本文重点介绍了利用水生杂草水葫芦植物制成植物粉、灰烬、纤维作为增强复合材料用于商业应用的各种应用. 风信子干燥植物粉和风信子植物纤维灰复合材料的平均拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度分别为17.4、23.8和28.4MPa、32.6、46.4和56.5MPa、0.05、0.06和0.20J, 一次钢筋的重量百分比为30%. 通过傅立叶变换红外光谱 (FTIR) 法对其基本化学官能团进行了鉴定. 借助于XRD表征, 水葫芦纤维、粉末和灰分复合材料的结晶度指数 (C.I) 分别为58%、64%和66%. 通过扫描电镜观察其表面形态结构. 根据力学和表征研究得出的分析结果, 已发现水葫芦是用于轻质材料应用的生物复合材料或纤维增强聚合物复合材料的最佳替代品.

KEYWORDS:

• Water hyacinth composite
• WH powder composite
• WH ash composite
• mechanical strength
• XRD
• FTIR

关键词:

• 水葫芦复合物
• WH粉末复合材料
• WH灰烬复合材料
• 机械强度、

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).