Extraction and characterization of novel cellulosic fiber from Jatropha integerrima plant stem for potential reinforcement in polymer composites

The present work attempts to discover the alternative for the synthetic fibers due to increased demand of environment-friendly materials. In order to accomplish this, a detailed characterization of novel fibers extracted from the Jatropha integerrima plant stems was conducted. In order to check the fiber reinforcement potentials, various properties such as chemical composition, tensile testing, water absorption, thermal stability, fiber roughness, and morphology were evaluated. The characterization results revealed important properties of Jatropha integerrima fiber (JIF). The fiber composition analysis indicated a cellulose content of 75.3 ± 2.4