Characterization of Alpinia Malaccensis fibers: A promising green reinforcement for engineering applications

Abstract

This study presents a first-time comprehensive characterization of Alpinia malaccensis (A. malaccensis) fibers extracted from the pseudostems of the Zingiberaceae family to evaluate their suitability as reinforcement in bio-composite applications. The physicochemical composition, thermal stability, crystalline structure, morphology, and tensile properties of the fibers were systematically investigated using FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and single-fiber tensile testing. The fibers exhibited a high cellulose content of 75.94%, resulting in superior tensile strength (1164.99 MPa) and stiffness (28.44 GPa). Moderate hemicellulose (14.27%) and lignin (6.14%) contents contributed to balanced flexibility and good interfacial compatibility with polymer matrices. SEM analysis revealed a fine fiber diameter of 40–50 µm with uniform longitudinal alignment, promoting efficient stress transfer. In addition, the low density (0.53 g/cm³) and moderate moisture content (10.19%) indicate suitability for lightweight and dimensionally stable composite structures. The results demonstrate that A. malaccensis fibers are a high-performance, sustainable reinforcement material with strong potential to replace synthetic fibers in eco-friendly composite applications.