6 Mechanical properties of chemically treated cellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

Nowadays, the cellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) are gaining attention in the field of electrical and electronic items, automobiles, sports, structural applications, packaging, and utensils. CFRPCs have good tensile and flexural strength, have low density, are biodegradable, are of low cost, and are environmentally friendly. The natural fibers are cultivated around 150 million tons across the world. The major part of cultivated natural fibers is utilized in different forms such as to feed cattle, to cook food, and to build roof of huts. Due to its lacking technical properties, these fibers (jute, wheat straw, flax, hemp, kenaf, pineapple, banana, abaca, sisal, Sansevieria, date palm, coconut, silk, kraft, hardwood, bamboo, rice husk, pine, wood, cottons, and kapok) are not utilized in composite product development. The selection of suitable fibers for product development is based on fiber properties, that is, tensile strength of fiber, adhesion of the fiber and matrix, fiber reinforcement pattern (unidirectional fibers, plain weave, stain weave, and twill weave), and thermal stability of fiber. The adhesion of fiber and matrix will be improved by surface treatments. The manufacturing methods (such as hand layup, compression molding, injection molding, vacuum molding, pultrusion process, and resin transfer molding), already being implemented to make the composite laminates, also play an important role in the mechanical properties of composites.