Abstract
Natural fibers are getting attention from researchers and academician to utilize in polymer composites due to their ecofriendly nature and sustainability. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive review of the foremost appropriate as well as widely used natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) and their applications. In addition, it presents summary of various surface treatments applied to natural fibers and their effect on NFPCs properties. The properties of NFPCs vary with fiber type and fiber source as well as fiber structure. The effects of various chemical treatments on the mechanical and thermal properties of natural fibers reinforcements thermosetting and thermoplastics composites were studied. A number of drawbacks of NFPCs like higher water absorption, inferior fire resistance, and lower mechanical properties limited its applications. Impacts of chemical treatment on the water absorption, tribology, viscoelastic behavior, relaxation behavior, energy absorption flames retardancy, and biodegradability properties of NFPCs were also highlighted. The applications of NFPCs in automobile and construction industry and other applications are demonstrated. It concluded that chemical treatment of the natural fiber improved adhesion between the fiber surface and the polymer matrix which ultimately enhanced physicomechanical and thermochemical properties of the NFPCs.
Highlights
The increase in environmental consciousness and community interest, the new environmental regulations and unsustainable consumption of petroleum, led to thinking of the use of environmentally friendly materials
Their general conclusion was that chemical treatment of natural fibers results in a remarkable improvement of the natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs)
Natural fiber polymer composites (NFPC) are a composite material consisting of a polymer matrix embedded with high-strength natural fibers, like jute, oil palm, sisal, kenaf, and flax [10]
Summary
The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive review of the foremost appropriate as well as widely used natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) and their applications. It presents summary of various surface treatments applied to natural fibers and their effect on NFPCs properties. The applications of NFPCs in automobile and construction industry and other applications are demonstrated
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