Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42174054›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Starch-modified date palm leaf fibers for eco-friendly epoxy biocomposites: microstructural, structural, and thermal characterization.

Abbes Ouaar, Hamida Boussehel, Youcef Djebloun, Djamel Ghernaout, Ahmed Belaadi, Maroua Chettah, Herbert Mukalazi

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Abbes OuaarLaboratory of Mechanical Engineering (LGM), University of Biskra, Biskra, 07000, Algeria.
Hamida BoussehelLaboratory of Mechanical Engineering (LGM), University of Biskra, Biskra, 07000, Algeria.
Youcef DjeblounLaboratory of Mechanical Engineering (LGM), University of Biskra, Biskra, 07000, Algeria.
Djamel GhernaoutChemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Ha'il, PO Box 2440, Ha'il, 81441, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed BelaadiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University 20 August 1955-Skikda, El-Hadaiek, Skikda, Algeria. ahmedbelaadi1@yahoo.fr.
Maroua ChettahMetallurgy Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Biskra, Biskra, 07000, Algeria.
Herbert MukalaziDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda. hmukalazi@kyu.ac.ug.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Growing environmental concerns are driving the search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials. This study investigates the effect of a chemical-free, starch-based treatment on date palm leaf fibers (DPFs) for use in fully biodegradable epoxy biocomposites. The treatment consists of mechanical cleaning, water washing, and immersion in an aqueous starch solution, with no chemical reagents. SEM and AFM analyses confirm effective removal of surface waxes, lignin, and hemicellulose, along with significant fiber bundle fibrillation. Surface amplitude (Rq) decreased by 37%, from 2.59 nm to 2.39 nm. XRD analysis reveals an increase in the Crystallinity Index from 41.93% to 44.72%, with a crystal size of 4.33 nm. FTIR analysis further confirms purification of the cellulosic structure. TGA results show improved thermal stability of starch-treated fibers (STFs) between 250 °C and 350 °C, indicating reduced hemicellulose and cellulose degradation. These findings demonstrate that starch treatment is an effective, eco-friendly surface modification that enhances interfacial adhesion and supports the development of high-performance biodegradable biocomposites.

Indexed as

Epoxy CompoundsPhoeniceaePlant LeavesStarchCellulosePolysaccharidesSpectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraredTemperatureX-Ray DiffractionCelluloseEpoxy CompoundshemicellulosePolysaccharidesStarchBio-treatmentDate palm leaf fibers (DPFs)Interfacial adhesionThermal stabilityTopography and surface roughness

Identifiers

PMID42174054
PMCPMC13415817

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.