Extraction and Characterization of Fiber Treatment Inula viscosa Fibers as Potential Polymer Composite Reinforcement

This research aims to characterize and analysis of newly cellulosic fiber extracted from Inula viscosa bark. The obtained Inula viscosa fibers were also characterized after having been treated with alkali and permanganate treatments. The effect of chemical treatments on the mechanical, physical, chemical and thermal properties of Inula viscosa fibers was investigated by using, X-ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric, scanning electron microscope analysis, optical microscope test, tensile and droplet tests. The treatment with permanganate was found to have the higher density (1.154 ± 0.032 g/cm³) compared to that of the untreated ones (1.040 ± 0.010 g/cm³). The best mechanical properties were also achieved when the permanganate treatment was adopted. In this pretext, tensile strength values and Young modulus were found as 196.99 ± 28.89 MPa and 12.98 ± 2.36 GPa, respectively. It is estimated that the fiber treatments will enable high-quality Inula Viscosa Fiber-reinforced polymer composites for use in the industry.