Investigation of the physical, chemical and thermal properties of a novel lignocellulosic fiber extracted from the Ravenala madagascariensis leaf stalk

XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA techniques. This novel fiber has a moisture content and regain percentages of 9.17% and 10.1%, respectively. Its average tensile strength is 151 MPa for a 20 mm gauge length (GL) and 136.8 MPa for a 30 mm gauge length (GL), with a crystallinity index of 67.37%, in which the size of the crystals is 15.64 nm. The fiber degradation begins at a maximum temperature of 550 °C. This original fiber holds potential for applications in the production of cellulose nanoparticles, fiber-reinforced composites, biomaterials and so on.