Characterization of Natural Cellulosic Fiber Obtained from the Flower Heads of Milk Thistle (<i>Silybum marianum</i>) as a Potential Polymer Reinforcement Material

Natural fibers are being investigated as alternatives to synthetic in composite materials. In this paper, the physical, chemical, thermal, and morphological characteristics of derived from milk thistle flower heads were characterized potential polymer reinforcement material using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The found contain 42.9% cellulose, 21.2% hemicellulose, a negligible lignin content. fiber constituent functional groups similar those observed for other natural fibers. crystallite size crystallinity index be 2.23 nm 84 ± 3%, respectively. thermal stability was 220°C. start rapidly degrading above 290°C. Morphologically, appeared have nonporous surface with well-structured longitudinal parallel grooves. Cross sectionally, consisted multiple hollow lumens interconnected cell walls. hollowed nature explains low value (0.33 0.04 g mL−1) their density. tensile strength determined 22 1 MPa. conclusion, can used effective reinforcements matrices.