Morphological, Physical, Mechanical, Chemical and Thermal Characterization of Sustainable Indian Areca Fruit Husk Fibers (Areca Catechu L.) as Potential Alternate for Hazardous Synthetic Fibers

Natural fibers can play a major role in composite industry due to its renewable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly properties. Areca Fruit Husk (AFH) is rich in fiber, but is wasted in large quantity from tobacco industries. Comprehensive characterization of AFH fiber is done to examine its morphological, physical, mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. High cellulose content of the fiber (57.35 wt%) provides better tensile strength (231.66 MPa) whereas the porous surface morphology (40.8 %) ensures better bonding with the matrix. Moreover, the low density of the fiber (0.78 g.cm(-3)) makes it an attractive alternative for hazardous synthetic fibers. The semi-crystalline nature and large crystalline size of the fiber reduce the water absorption characteristics. The thermo gravimetric analysis confirms its stability up to 240 degrees C, which is higher than the polymerization temperature. The results confirm the potential of AFH fibers as a reinforcement in bio-reinforced polymer composites for automotive and structural applications.