Characterization of New Natural Cellulosic Fiber from<i>Acacia leucophloea</i>Bark

Abstract

There is a need to explore the possibility of natural fibers as a novel reinforcement to fabricate lightweight composite structures. This investigation was aimed at understanding the characteristics of fiber extracted from the bark of the Acacia leucophloea (AL) plant and its physico-chemical properties. Cellulose content (68.09 wt.%), density (1385 kg/m3), crystallinity index (51%), tensile strength (317–1608 MPa), and Young's modulus (8.41 − 69.61 GPa) properties were identified in the AL fibers, and thermal studies using TG and DTG analysis revealed that they degraded at a temperature of 220°C with kinetic activation energy of 73.1 kJ/mol.