Exploring the Characteristics of Aerva javanica and Acacia tortilis as Promising Candidates for Sustainable Industrial Fiber

Abstract

Background: Green composites, or Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their biodegradability, renewability, ease of processing, low density, cost, and energy consumption. Natural fibers are created from plants, animals, and minerals, offering higher structural advantages and better performance due to higher cellulose content and microfibril arrangement. The goal of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of using Acacia tortilis bark and Aerva javanica flowers (natural visible fibers) as a composite by extracting and characterizing their chemical composition and physical characteristics.

Methods: The experiments have been done using standard methods using gravimetrical analysis and calculations.

Results: The initial phase of our studies has shown that Acacia tortilis fibers can have competitive chemical composition and tensile properties compared to common natural fibers as well as Aerva javanica, is lighter, less dense, and has promising possibilities for utilizing its fiber in developing green composites.

Conclusion: The preliminary findings indicate that Acacia tortilis fibers show competitive properties, surpassing common natural fibers and Aerva javanica, making them a promising candidate for green composite development. However, further extensive research is required for conclusive insights.