Extraction and characterization of cellulosic fiber extracted from Vitex negundo L. stem

This study investigates the characterization of Vitex negundo L. plant stem fiber (VNF), a novel and sustainable cellulosic material with potential for innovative applications. The plant stems were manually collected and processed using the retting method to obtain the fibers. VNF exhibited a diameter of 553.8 ± 55.05 μm and a density of 828.26 ± 30.43 kg/m³. Chemical compositional analysis revealed the cellulose content to be 65.45 ± 6.26 wt%, hemicellulose at 10.21 ± 3.65 wt%, lignin at 12.16 ± 4.43 wt%, wax content at 0.37 ± 0.06 wt%, and moisture content at 9.65 ± 4.454 wt%. The crystallinity index of 68.65 % indicated the highly crystalline nature of VNF. The stretching frequency of functional groups was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whereas thermal degradation analysis indicated VNF's suitability for high-temperature environments, with peak degradation observed at approximately 200 °C. According to Broido's calculations, the kinetic activation energy was 108.41 kJ/mol. Surface topological analysis identified surface impurities that contribute to improved fiber bonding. The fiber length used for testing was 50 mm, with a tensile strength of approximately 322.9 ± 39.62 MPa. These findings confirmed VNF's excellent mechanical and thermal properties, positioning it as a suitable candidate for lightweight composite applications.