Chapter 15 - Development of natural fiber-reinforced flame-retardant polymer composites

Abstract

In the current scenario, sustainable materials have great importance. As a result, researches are being conducted in various fields to investigate the properties of sustainable materials, which can replace synthetic materials. In addition, researchers are trying hard to modify these materials to enable their use in diverse applications. However, natural fibers and their composites are well known for their high flammability, as these materials have a great role in the automobile and in the manufacturing of domestic appliances. The amount of essential components present in natural fibers, for example, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin, contributes to their higher flammable property. Thus, there is a necessity to tailor their property of flame retardancy by incorporating fire retardants into these composites. This chapter deals with the development of the flame-retardant property of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Many researchers have conducted studies regarding the enhancement of flame retardancy of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Various types of flame-retardant additives were formulated, and researchers conducted studies to incorporate these flame-retardant additives into natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites to enhance the fire-resistant property of these composites. This chapter evaluates the studies related to the development of natural fiber-reinforced flame-retardant polymer composites. It also analyzes the studies and their effectiveness in enhancing the flame retardancy of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites.