COMPARISON OF FIBRES PROPERTIES OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA AND ACACIA ARABICA PLANT FOR LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE APPLICATIONS

In this paper, the bark of Azadirachta Indica and Acacia Arabica plant is analysed for investigating and comparing. The aim is to investigate the potential use of these fibres as reinforcements in polymeric materials. The physicochemical properties of Azadirachta Indica fibres (AIFs) and Acacia Arabica fibres (AAFs) are examined by chemical constitutions, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and surface morphological analysis. AIF has a cellulose content of 68.42 wt.%, density of 740 kgm(-3), crystallinity index of 65.04%; AAF has a cellulose content up to 68.1 wt.%, density equal to 1028 kgm(-3) and crystallinity index of 51.72% respectively. The maximum peak temperature obtained in differential thermogravimetry (DTG) curve is 321.2 degrees C for AIF, and 345.1 degrees C for AAF. The physicochemical results confirm the structural application of AIF and AAF for several industrial fields.