Physical, chemical, thermal, and surface morphological properties of stem fibers extracted from the plant <i>Cayratia trifolia</i> L

Recently, natural fibers have become prominent for their potential use as reinforcement in polymer composites owing to their renewable nature and biodegradable properties. In this work, efforts have been made to isolate and characterize the cellulosic fibers from the stem of Cayratia trifolia L. Fibers were processed using NaOH and a mechanical method, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to examine the chemical bonds and functional groups. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to evaluate the thermal stability of the fibers, while x-ray diffraction spectroscopy was employed to analyze their crystalline properties. Scanning electron microscopy examined the fibers’ surface morphology. The study revealed that Cayratia trifolia L. fibers contain 64.92% cellulose, 19.19% hemicellulose, and 15.3% lignin. The fibers showed a crystallinity index of 39.91% and a crystallite size of 15.8 nm, along with strong tensile properties. FTIR confirmed the presence of biopolymers, and the fibers demonstrated thermal stability up to 135°C. These findings suggest their potential for use as reinforcement in polymer composites for apparel and nonwoven textiles.