Innovative characterization and mechanical properties of natural cellulosic Coccinia Indica fiber and its composites

Abstract

Abstract The present paper reports the chemical, mechanical and morphological characterization of Coccinia Indica (CI) fiber. The CI fiber composite was fabricated via compression molding. The result of the chemical analysis of CI fiber shows that the fiber contains more cellulose and skimpy lignin, ash and wax. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals that the fiber possesses a multi-cellular structure with parenchyma and chlorenchyma tissues in the cell walls. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies divulge that the CI fiber contains alkali bonds and a crystalline index of 29.99 %. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals that the major degradation of the fiber occurs at a temperature range of 204.16 °C to 376.3 °C. According to the various mechanical test results, tensile, flexural and impact strength grows with an increase in the percentage of fiber weight and fiber length. The maximum values were found to be 30 mm in fiber length and 35 wt.-% for fiber loading. The SEM fractography result shows that the predominant mechanism for mechanical failure is due to fiber breakage, fiber pull out, matrix fracture and fiber fracture. This confirms the use of fiber reinforced composites for various industrial applications.