Composition analysis, mechanical properties, and water absorption kinetics of extracted cellulosic fibers from Calamus deerratus cane as biodegradable reinforcement alternatives

This study aims to fill a research gap on the genus Calamus by providing a detailed elucidation on one of the insufficiently explored species, namely Calamus (C.) deerratus fiber. This investigation encompasses the chemical composition, fiber extraction, SEM-assisted fiber analysis, XRD examination, water absorption kinetics, and mechanical characterization of the C. deerratus fiber. The Weibull statistical analysis to model the failure behavior of the fiber was also investigated. The findings reveal that the chemical composition of the fiber includes 41.71 % cellulose, 29.83 % hemicellulose, and 20.64 % lignin. The fiber had a crystallinity index and cellulose microfibrillar crystallite/crystal size of 55.26 % and 0.817 nm, respectively. The metaxylem lumen-induced porosity level, average lumen size, and frequently occurring metaxylem size range in the C. deerratus's stem were 6.737 %, 212.49 µm, and 200–220 µm, respectively. The extracted fiber is characterized by non-uniform morphology and microfibril-network-assisted roughness, which can enhance its applicability as a reinforcement in composite development. The tensile strength (42–180 MPa) and modulus (∼ 1.0–8.4 GPa) of the fiber increased as the fiber diameter decreased (0.9–0.3 mm), owing to porosity reduction and better structural homogeneity. The microfibril angle of the fiber varied with the fiber diameter, while the fiber's average microfibril angle was 27.82°±3.81°. The Weibull analysis indicates that 63.2 % of the C. deerratus fibers are expected to fail at 55.92 MPa due to fiber diameter irregularity. Fiber screening or selection of thinner C. deerratus fibers is recommended for use to improve the fiber's characteristic failure strength.