Title
Chemical composition tensile properties and structural characterization of the buriti fiber
Authors
HEITOR LUIZ ORNAGHI JUNIOR ALVARO GUSTAVO DE OLIVEIRA MORAES MATHEUS POLETTO ADEMIR JOSE ZATTERA and SANDRO CAMPOS AMICO

Received June 17, 2014
Published Volume 50 Issue 1 January
Keywords buriti fibers, chemical composition, crystallinity, thermal analysis, morphology

Abstract
In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the use of plant fibers in composite materials due to environmental concerns. These studies may lead to its wide-spread use as reinforcement in composite materials. In this work, chemical composition, moisture content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry, mechanical testing and morphological studies were performed for the characterization of buriti fiber. Chemical analysis revealed a high amount of lignin and extractives. FTIR analysis demonstrated that buriti fiber contains high moisture content and thermal stability reached around 200 °C. XRD showed that buriti exhibits mainly cellulose I structure with a crystallinity index of 44.6% and 51.9% (depending on the method used). Its tensile properties are similar to those of other plant fibers and morphological studies indicated surface defects in the longitudinal section associated with a porous structure.