Abstract
Cellulose was dissolved in pre cooled environment friendly solvent (aq.7% sodium
hydroxide+12% urea) and regenerated with 5%H2SO4 as coagulation bath. Using cellulose as
matrix and alkali treated short natural fibers extracted from the newly identified Thespesia
Lampas plant as reinforcement, the green composite films were prepared. The effect of fiber
loading on the tensile properties and thermal stability was studied. The fractographs indicated
better interfacial bonding between the fibers and cellulose. The crystallinity of the composite
films was found to be lower than the matrix and decreased with increasing fiber content. In spite
of better interfacial bonding, the tensile properties of the composites were found to be lower than
those of the matrix and decreased with increasing fiber content and this behavior was attributed
to the random orientation of the fibers in the composites. The thermal stability of the composite
films was higher than the matrix and increased with fiber content.