Characterization of a Novel Natural Cellulosic Fiber Extracted from the Petiole of Corypha umbraculifera for Potential Application as a Reinforcing Agent in Fiber-based Composites

Abstract This study investigated the potential of Corypha umbraculifera fibers as reinforcing agents in fiber-based composites, providing a novel sustainable solution. The chemical, thermal, mechanical, crystallographic, and morphological characteristics of the fibers were determined to evaluate their performance as reinforcing agents. The high cellulose content (66.37%) found in the chemical analysis suggested good potential for fiber strength, which was further supported by the measured mechanical properties, a tensile strength of 516.1 ± 115 MPa, and a Young's modulus of 3.15 ± 0.57 GPa. The maximum breaking elongation was 2.73 ± 0.37%. FTIR analysis confirmed the functional groups of the chemical components. The low density of the fibers (0.52 ± 0.009 g/cm³) shows their potential for use as a reinforcing agent for lightweight composites. The hollow fiber structure of these fibers observed in the SEM images also contributes to their low density. The analysis identified fibers with extraordinary lengths (1.5-3.0 m) and diameters ranging from 230 to 820 µm. XRD was employed for crystallographic analysis, and a microfibril angle of 18.32 ± 1.28°, influenced the axial strength of the fibers. The fibers demonstrate notable thermal stability with a maximum degradation temperature of 323.3 ℃, as measured by TGA, making them ideal for withstanding high-temperature processing conditions in composites. Upon thorough examination of the characteristics in this study, it was established that fibers extracted from Corypha umbraculifera are promising and environmentally friendly as reinforcing agents for fiber-based composites.