Investigation of Physico Chemical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of the Albizia Lebbeck Bark Fibers

The production of materials using synthetic fibers is a strong contributor to carbon emissions and waste. Because of growing environmental consciousness, natural fibers act as a substitute for synthetic fibers due to their renewable, eco-friendly and bio-degradable nature. Natural cellulose fibers are newly identified from the sources of Albizia Lebbeck fibers (ALF). This study is intended to understand the characteristics of ALF extracted from the bark of the Albizia Lebbeck and its physicochemical properties. The structure of the fibers was analyzed by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction. Cellulose content (72.59 wt.%), density (905 kg/m3), and crystallinity index (52.99%) properties were identified in the AL fibers, and thermal studies using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis and Derivative Thermo Gravimetric analysis revealed that the maximum degradation temperature is 353.37°C with kinetic activation energy of 89 kJ/mol. From the results, it is concluded that the properties of ALFs guaranteed that it could be an alternative material as new reinforcement as green composites in the manufacturing and automobile industries.