Microscopical, physico-chemical, mineralogical, and mechanical characterization of Sansevieria zeylanica fibers as potential reinforcement of composite structures

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine for the first time the morphological, physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of a new kind of fibers, extracted from the leaves of a plant of the Asparagaceae family, to make it possible to use them as potential reinforcement for composite structures. The fibers were extracted from the leaves of Sansevieria zeylanica by decortication process. The presence of mechanical fibers and ribbon fibers were identified through the anatomy of Sansevieria zeylanica leaves. The hierarchical cell structure of these fibers was analyzed through polarized optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It consists of primary cell wall, secondary cell wall, fiber lumen, and middle lamellae. The chemical composition of the natural fibers, in terms of cellulose 76.12%, hemicelluloses 9.32%, lignin 4.28%, and ash content 1.36%, was analyzed by using standard test methods and compared with other natural fibers. The fiber density and fineness were found to be 0.945 ± 0.004 g/cm3 and 8.35 tex, respectively. The thermal behavior of the fiber was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetric analysis. The initial degradation temperature of the cellulose component is 304℃. The results obtained through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed the presence of cellulose with the crystallinity index of 66.67%. Finally, single fiber tensile tests have been performed to assess the mechanical properties. Tensile test of Sansevieria zeylanica fibers showed the tensile strength of 359 MPa and Youngs modulus of 8 GPa.