Eco-friendly Urea-Formaldehyde Composites Based on Natural Cellulose Fiber

The variation of character of urea formaldehyde resin with addition of cellulose extracted from corn husk was tested. Cellulose was extracted from dried raw corn (Zea mays) husk, the second largest agricultural crop grown around the world, 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 by heating the formaldehyde in paraffin oil bath and adding urea to it until it was completely dissolved. Composite of this urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin with the thus produced cellulose fibers was prepared by simply adding the calculated amount of cellulose to UF. The procedure followed solution casting method. Characterization of pure cellulose was carried out by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) whereas UF/Cellulose composites were characterized by FTIR, compressive strength test and water absorption test. From results of XRD, FTIR and SEM, extraction of pure cellulose was affirmed, crystalline nature of cellulose was confirmed and particle size of thus obtained cellulose was also determined by XRD. By 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.