Effect of chemical treatment on physio-mechanical properties of lignocellulose natural fiber extracted from the bark of careya arborea tree

Abstract

For the first time, the current work has carried out a chemical treatment of a novel ligno-cellulose fiber that is extracted from the bark of an unexplored plant of Careya arborea. Careya arborea (CA), a flowering tree known for its green berries, thrives in the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan. This research was focused on extracting fibers from the bark of the Cary tree for the first time to corroborate the influence of chemical treatment on its different characteristics. These CA fibers have a high proportion of cellulose, consisting of 71.17 wt percent, together with 27.86 wt percent of hemicellulose, and a reduced density of 1140 kg/m3, making them a suitable candidate for creating lightweight applications in a variety of industries. Chemical treatment has done on the cay fiber with the concentrations of NaOH 5 (wt%), 10 (wt%), and 15 (wt%) solution mixture to improve their characteristics. Estimated the difference between Chemically processed and non-processed Cary fibers and corroborated in results. We performed a number of experiments, including FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, AFM, and TGA, to fully comprehend the changing properties. Chemical testing showed that cellulose changed from its non-crystalline state to cellulose, proving that the treatment was successful in changing the fibre structure. Additionally, the thermo-gravimetric examination showed higher thermal stability 248 °C–325 °C and a rise in the crystallinity index, indicating the treated fibers’ improved potential for high-temperature applications. The treated Cary fibers exhibited excellent surface properties, promising improved adhesion, mechanical performance, offering lightweight and sustainable solutions for diverse applications.