Characterization of natural cellulosic fibers from the bark of the Edgeworthia chrysantha plant

In this paper, the structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fibers are characterized. The chemical composition of Edgeworthia chrysantha mainly includes cellulose (47.13%), hemicelluloses (15.20%), and lignin (7.30%). X-ray diffraction analysis shows that Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fiber has high crystallinity (76.38%) and small grain size (3.13 nm). Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the maximum degradation temperature of Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fiber is 351 °C. The results of scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy show that Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fiber has an obvious hierarchical structure and a relatively rough surface. Additionally, the elastic modulus (6.04–15.21 GPa) and hardness (0.17–0.88 GPa) of Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fiber were measured by nanoindentation. The result provided a theoretical basis for the high-value application of Edgeworthia chrysantha phloem fibers, especially in papermaking, textiles, fiber-reinforced material and other applications.