Comprehensive Characterization Of Novel Cellulose Fiber From Paederia Foetida and Its Modification For Sustainable Composites Application

Fiber derived from the plant Paederia Foetida stems (PF) is a novel natural fiber with the capacity to replace glass fibers in composite reinforcement. The technique of modifying the fiber surface with NaOH and KOH is simple and straightforward, generating properties that differ from the raw fiber. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of NaOH and KOH treatments on the surface of Paederia foetida fiber (PFs) in relation to the physical, crystal structure, functional groups, tensile strength, thermal and morphological properties compared to raw PFs. The raw fiber was obtained by soaking the PFs rods in water for 10 days, followed by surface treatment with a solution of NaOH and KOH. The results showed that compared to raw fiber, after NaOH dan KOH treated PFs, the diameter and moisture content of the PFs decreased, while the tensile strength increased significantly by 43.27%, and good thermal stability. The highest crystallinity index was obtained from KOH-treated PFs of 79.685%. According to the functional groups in the FTIR observations, NaOH treatment was found to be more effective in removing lignin and hemicellulose components, as well as increasing cellulose compounds in the fiber. The surface morphology was found to be rougher with the loss of impurities after NaOH treatment. Based on the results, raw, NaOH and KOH-treated PFs have the potential to be used as reinforcement for lightweight composite and alternative materials to replace glass fiber and coconut fiber in construction applications.