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The usage of new cellulosic fibers in industrial applications is massive because of its excellent performances. These fibers are utilized especially for manufacture of high-performance composites. Coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fibers are extracted for leaf sheath of coconut tree. The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fiber CLS as an alternative for polymer composites. In the current study, the consequence of NaOH treatment on structural, thermal and morphological behavior of treated and untreated coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber in terms of single fiber tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (×RD), ther)mogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) has been explored. From SEM analysis, it was identified globular lumps spread consistently over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. The outcomes from the experimentation exposed that the NaOH treatment has impacted in the eradication of amorphous hemicellulose and lignin contents from the CLS fiber surface and in turn resulted in excellent structural and thermal stability behaviour of fiber. The present work endorses the great potential of CLS fibers to be utilized for bio-reinforcement in order to fabricate lightweight composite structures, employed in automobile and structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of biobased composites with tailorable mechanical properties made of natural fibers, polylactic acid, and ferulic acid derivatives (FAD) is studied. FAD was used to develop composites with elastomeric properties like improved elongation at break and highly reversible deformation upon elongation. Composites were prepared using raw and enzymatically treated hemp fibers. The fibers were defibrillated due to the enzymatic treatment increasing their aspect ratio. The composites were characterized by their mechanical properties and their reaction to fire. No significant change in the dispersion of the fibers in the composites was reported. Homogenously dispersed crystallites of FAD were observed by scanning electron microscopy in the PLA matrix and at the interface between the PLA and the fibers, where they are suspected to increase the free volume in correlation with a decrease in mechanical properties following the increase in the aspect ratio of the fibers. FAD also degraded the reaction to fire of the material with an increase in 10% of the peak of Heat Release Rate (pHRR) in comparison to neat PLA. It also increased the charring residue up to 3 wt.%. A synergistic effect between FAD and the lignin increasing the charring residue is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]