Abstract
The usage of banana natural fibers along with polymer matrix composites had created much interest among the researchers due to their low cost, easy availability, strength and enhancement in properties such as mechanical, wear, electrical and thermal. Banana plant is cultivated all over the world which is familiarly used as food products especially banana fruit as well as many household items made from banana fibers. The natural fiber extracted from the banana stem proves to be a potential reinforcement in the composite manufacturing. This review is very much needed because of the enormous research reported on the banana fiber reinforced polymer composites, with such an excellent property offered by this banana fiber reinforcement the impact of hybridization and its need also to be addressed. This brief review article gives a detail information about the combinations of various hybrid composites produced using the banana fiber along with various other natural/synthetic fibers in the polymer matrixes and its performance improvement especially in the mechanical and thermal properties. From the review it was inferred that 30–50% increase in all the mechanical properties such as Tensile, Flexural and Impact strength. Also in addition an enhancement in thermal and moisture resistance also noted. In addition during this review the research gap observed is that the development of bio composites based on banana fiber is very limited and also the influence of banana fiber along with bio resin needs to be studied. The properties such as fatigue, fire resistance also to be analyzed using the banana fiber reinforcement.
Highlights
The Composites produced from natural fibers has created more interest among the researchers due to their good strength, less cost and more importantly their easy availability
In addition noticed that the thermal properties studies on these hybrid composites is still in the lacking part and their applications limited only in automotive sectors be extended to other sectors such as construction, biomedical and aircraft industries in the near coming future
Studies on the banana fiber reinforced low density polyethylene composites were carried out by Nur et al [42] in which the composites are prepared by using compression molding technique in this both treated and bleached fiber of different weight percentages range 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% wt were taken and noticed that the tensile and flexural strength take an increase of upto 22.5%wt
Summary
The Composites produced from natural fibers has created more interest among the researchers due to their good strength, less cost and more importantly their easy availability. The strength of all the natural fibers and the fiber content depends on cellulose and lignin presence. This is an essential factor that decides a fiber to be used as reinforcement along with the matrixes. Excellent healthier work environment, no hazards to human and enhanced tool life is some other special features of the natural fiber composites. With these many advantages the natural fiber composites find its applications in:. When compared to glass fibers during the production natural fibers possess price advantage both for material as well as the applied technologies
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