Eco-Friendly Urea-Formaldehyde Composites Based on Corn Husk Cellulose Fiber

Cellulose fibers were extracted from dried raw corn (Zea mays) husk, is the second most widely traded cereal after wheat, by alkaline treatment (mercerization), followed by neutralization with acid; product of which underwent bleaching to produce pure form of cellulose. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin was prepared from formaldehyde and urea and its composite with the extracted cellulose fibers was prepared via solution casting method. Characterization of prepared samples was carried out by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compressive strength test and water absorption test. From the results of XRD, FTIR and SEM, extraction of pure cellulose was affirmed, crystalline nature of cellulose was confirmed and crystallite size of thus obtained cellulose was also determined by XRD. From the results of FTIR, compressive strength test and water absorption test, it was concluded that addition of cellulose fiber to UF resin increases the compressive strength and water absorption of the composite which ultimately makes the composite more bio-degradable and eco-friendly.