The employ of vegetal fibers for textiles and composites represents a great potential in
economic and social sustainable development. Some Malvaceae species are considered tropical
cosmopolitans, such as from Sida genus. Several species of this genus provide excellent textile bast
fibers, which are very similar in qualities to the jute textile fiber. The objective of the present study
is present the physicochemical characterization of six Brazilian vegetal fibers: Sida rhombifolia L.;
Sida carpinifolia L. f.; Sidastrum paniculatum (L.) Fryxell; Sida cordifolia L.; Malvastrum
coromandelianum (L.) Gurck; Wissadula subpeltata (Kuntze) R.E.Fries. Respectively the two first
species are from Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome and the four remaining from Brazilian Cerrado
biome, despite of present in other regions of the planet. The stems of these species were retted in
water at 37oC for 20 days. The fibers were tested in order to determine tensile rupture strength,
tenacity, elongation, Young’s modulus, cross microscopic structure, Scanning Electronic
Microscopy (SEM), regain, combustion, acid, alkali, organic solvent and cellulase effects, pH of the
aqueous extract, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
The obtained values were compared with those from fibers of recognized applicability in the textile
industry including hemp. The results are promising in terms of their employment in thermoset and
thermoplastic medium resistance composites.FAPESP (“Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo”), CAPES (Coordenação de
Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (“Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico”) are gratefully acknowledged. The authors would also
like to thank Mr. Ervin Sriubas Jr. and Kellinton José Mendonça Francisco for their technical
support
