Experimental study of a new cellulose fiber extracted from Iris pallida Lam
摘要
A new cellulose fiber extracted from Iris pallida Lam. (IPL) was examined for the first time as a potential reinforcement in composite materials. Morphological analysis was conducted using a scanning electron microscope, allowing for a detailed observation of the fiber ultrastructure. The fiber diameter was measured with an optical microscope, showing a variation ranging from 50 to 60 µm. The thermal properties were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), providing information on the thermal stability of the fiber. The chemical composition was determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Tensile tests were performed using a tensile testing machine to evaluate the fiber mechanical properties. The results revealed a crystallinity index of approximately 74.75% and an average crystallite size of 4.72 nm, indicating a relatively ordered nanoscale structure. The tensile strength measured for a single fiber with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 54.5 µm was 683.03 ± 129.21 MPa, while the Young’s modulus was 21.07 ± 3.12 GPa and the strain was 3.24 ± 0.38%. These results demonstrate that IPL fibers possess advantageous mechanical and structural characteristics, making them promising as reinforcement in composites. The observed properties suggest that IPL fibers could enhance the performance of composite materials by offering an attractive combination of strength and flexibility.