Experimental Exploration of Properties and Characterization of Nerium oleander L. Plant Stem Fibers and Their Polymer Composites

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties and composites of a novel cellulosic fiber extracted from Nerium oleander L. plant stem. Nerium oleander fibers (NOFs) were separated from mature oleander plants using a microbial degradation technique, and their composites (NOFCs) were fabricated using a compression molding technique. The chemical composition, physical and thermal behavior of NOFs, and mechanical and water absorption properties of NOFs and NOFCs were investigated. The findings show that NOFs have a cellulose content of 57%, hemicellulose content of 13%, lignin content of 16%, density of 1.46 g/cc, and crystallinity index (CI) of 57.14%. The results further revealed that NOFs had a tensile strength of 438 MPa and a strain rate of 1.8%, whereas NOFCs had a maximum tensile strength of 58.42 MPa. NOFs can withstand temperatures up to 357 °C, according to a thermogravimetric study, and the functional groups were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that the surface morphology and fractured surfaces of the NOFs and their composites were smooth and circular in cross-section.