Extraction and characterization of various unconventional natural fibres

In this study, various unconventional fibres have been successfully extracted from crop residue of Canna indica, Areca catechu sheath , Caryota urens spadix petiole , and Abelmoschus esculentus , and their physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties are studied. High cellulose contents of the fibres (20.5-67 wt%) provide better tensile strength (525-563MPa) and ensure better bonding with the matrix. Moreover, the low density of the fibre (1.37-1.44 gcm −3 ) makes it an alternative to hazardous synthetic fibres. The lower crystal size (0.5-12.9nm) structure tends to absorb more water than the higher crystal size structure. The thermogravimetric analysis confirms its stability up to 150-300°C, which is higher than the polymerization temperature. These characteristics show that the fibre may be effortlessly converted into nonwoven fabrics.