Prospect and Potential of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) Bast Fiber in Composite Materials Reinforced with Natural Fibers. Part1: Fiber Characterization

ABSTRACT

Sustainability and environmental consciousness directed attention toward research and innovation in the field of natural fiber composites. Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is tropical tree of the silk-cotton family that is native to Africa. The aim of this study is to pore over the use of baobab bast fibers as potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The baobab bast fibers were extracted from the bark of baobab tree in Sudan. Fibers were investigated by chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and single fiber tensile test. Further, the density and relative humidity of fibers were determined.The cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and moisture contents present in the fiber are 60.70%, 21.98%, 5.91%, 5.32%, 13%, respectively. The fiber has a density of 1.1041 g/cm³. FTIR spectra for cellulose and nanocellulose confirms absorption bands characteristic of pure celluloses at 3330, 2919, 1640, 1028. Scanning electron micrographs showed roughening of the fiber surface and crack-like lines indicate fiber clusters being held together. The baobab fiber possessed a crystallinity index of 48.01% with thermal stability up to 250°C. The results revealed that baobab fiber can be utilized as reinforcement in polymer composites.

摘要

可持续性和环境意识使人们关注天然纤维复合材料领域的研究和创新. Baobab（Adansonia digitata L.）是原产于非洲的蚕棉科热带树种. 本研究的目的是探讨baobab -bast纤维在高分子复合材料中的应用. 从苏丹猴面包树树皮中提取baobab韧皮纤维. 采用化学分析、傅立叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、X射线衍射（XRD）、热重分析（TGA）、扫描电镜（SEM）和单纤维拉伸试验对纤维进行了研究. 此外，还测定了纤维的密度和相对湿度. 纤维中的纤维素、半纤维素、木质素、灰分和水分含量分别为60.70%、21.98%、5.91%、5.32%、13%. 纤维密度为1.1041g/cm3. 纤维素和纳米纤维素的FTIR光谱证实了纯纤维素在3330、2919、1640、1028处的吸收带特征. 扫描电子显微镜显示纤维表面粗糙化，裂纹状线显示纤维团簇被结合在一起. Baobab纤维的结晶度指数为48.01%，热稳定性可达250℃. 结果表明，baobab纤维可作为聚合物复合材料的增强体.

KEYWORDS:

• Adansonia digitata L.
• cellulosic fiber
• SEM
• FTIR
• XRD
• TGA

关键词:

• 纤维素纤维
• 扫描电镜
• 傅里叶变换红外光谱
• X射线衍射
• TGA热重分析

Acknowledgments

One of the author Dr. Hafiz A. Eltahir expresses to thank Prof. Weilin Xu and Prof. Xin Liu for their valuable support to carry out this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21905214]. Excellent Young Science and Technology Innovation Team of Hubei High School [T201707].