Processing and performance characterization of dichrostachys cinerea fiber and its composites

Abstract

newlineComposite materials play a vital role as a substitute for the conventional materials The environmental consciousness has motivated the researchers towards the field of natural fiber composites Hence the natural fiber reinforced composites newlinehave been focused by many researchers In this present work the locally available Dichrostachys Cinerea Fiber DCF is identified as new natural fiber reinforcement The fiber is extracted from the bark of Dichrostachys Cinerea plant by a mechanical newlineprocess is called as decortications The current research has established the fact that DCFs have not been studied as reinforcement in composite materials till date An initiation has been taken to analyze the characteristics of DCFs Eventually the newlinecharacterization results of DCFs strongly shows the possibility of reinforcement in natural fiber polymer matrices The physical properties and chemical constituents of the fiber are strongly influenced by soil conditions, climatic conditions of the region age of the plant and extraction techniques Cellulose content of the DCF is 72 4 wt which is greater than other natural fibers such as Prosopis juliflora 61 65 wt Cordia dichotoma 59 7 wt and Grewia tilifolia 62 8 wt Higher lignin content 16 89 wt of the DCFs retains water in the fiber and it acts as a shield against biological attack It s potentially contributes to the fiber structure and properties newline newline