Physio-Chemical and Thermal Characterization of Sorghum Bagasse Fiber for Sustainable Composite Application

Abstract

In the quest for a sustainable engineering society, agricultural residues such as sorghum bagasse offer promising potential as eco-friendly reinforcements. This study explores the physicochemical and thermal properties of sorghum bagasse fibers for reinforcing Plaster of Paris (POP). The fiber demonstrated a tensile strength of 2.383 MPa, with an elongation at break of 1.319% and a strain at break of 1%, suggesting a moderate ability to withstand tensile forces. FTIR analysis confirmed major lignocellulosic functional groups (O–H, C–H, C–O), while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a three-stage decomposition with major weight loss (approx. 69.5%) occurring between 287.6°C to 447.3°C, and a final char residue of 12.96%. SEM micrographs revealed a rough, fibrous morphology, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) showed a composition rich in Carbon (52.03 wt.%) and Oxygen (39.92 wt.%), with Sodium (0.71 wt.%) retained post-treatment. These results suggest sorghum bagasse fiber is a viable, low-cost, and sustainable reinforcement for POP composites in non-structural construction applications.