Examining the Mechanical Characteristics and Attributes of Both Raw and Alkali-Treated Hibiscus canescens Stem Fiber for Polymeric Composite Reinforcement

Air and water pollution, landfills, and other environmental issues are caused by artificial fibers like glass, nylon, carbon, twaron and aramid etc. Using a range of characterization methods, this study looked into the sustainability of a special natural fiber that was extracted from the stem of Hibiscus canescens Stem Fiber because of their low density, recyclable, renewable, high strength, stiffness and biodegradable etc. To improve its mechanical qualities, five samples of raw HCSF underwent alkali treatments such as separate soaking durations of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 min in 5% NaOH solution. Then the optical result one (60 min) further treatment by benzoyl peroxide, potassium permanganate and octadecanoic acid. The different behaviors of the unalkalized and optimally alkalized HCSFs were investigated through a variety of techniques, including Atomic force microscopy, tensile testing, X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR Analysis, thermogravimetric analyzer, and EDX spectroscopic analysis. According to the results cellulose content of increased by 9.07% as compared to raw HCSFs (68.46 wt%), while the fiber density increased by 3.03% as raw fiber was 1425 kg/m3. By using thermo gravimetric analysis, the char residue for raw (29.3%) and increased to 44.7% after alkalized. High crystalline index (54.49%) as raw HCSF and crystalline size (1.89 nm) also achieved after alkalized by the elimination of amorphous substances including wax, lignin and hemicelluloses (394.9 ± 14.42 MPa) and tensile strength (447.4 ± 14.99 MPa) achieved better as compared to raw one. As a result because of their enhanced properties, the optimally alkalized HCSFs could be useful for producing fiber-reinforced polymer composites.