Comparison of the physical and chemical features of composites produced from textile waste and cellulose plants.

This work concerns the thermal and sound insulation as well as the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composite reinforced with glass fibers. These fibers may have dangerous effect during handling, for example the glass fibers might cause some damage to the eyes, lungs and even skin. For this reason the present work, investigates the behavior of polymer composite reinforced with natural fibers (Plant fibers) as replacement to glass fibers. Unsaturated Polyester resin was used as matrix material reinforced with two types of fibers, one of them is artificial (Glass fibers) and the other type is natural (Jute, Fronds Palm and Reed Fibers) by hand lay-up technique. All fibers are untreated with any chemical solvent. The Percentage of mixing was (90 wt. %) of the matrix while the weight fraction of each type of fibers was fixed (10 wt. %). The mechanical tests included impact and flexural strength tests. The results showed that the impact strength and flexural strength of the composites reinforced with Jute fibers is higher than that of Glass fibers and other natural fibers. The coefficients of thermal conductivity of the composites were measured by Lee's disc apparatus, the results show that the thermal insulation of the composite reinforced with jute fibers is higher than that of glass fibers and other natural fibers. The acoustic insulation of the composites reinforced with Jute fibers showed excellent result in insulation compared with glass fibers and other natural fibers.

Natural fibers today are a popular choice for applications in composite manufacturing. Based on the sustainability benefits, biofibers such as plant fibers are replacing synthetic fibers in composites. These fibers are used to manufacture several biocomposites. The chemical composition and properties of each of the fibers changes, which demands the detailed comparison of these fibers. The reinforcement potential of natural fibers and their properties have been described in numerous papers. Today, high performance biocomposites are produced from several years of research. Plant fibers, particularly bast and leaf, find applications in automotive industries. While most of the other fibers are explored in lab scales they have not yet found large-scale commercial applications. It is necessary to also consider other fibers such as ones made from seed (coir) and animals (chicken feather) as they are secondary or made from waste products. Few plant fibers such as bast fibers are often reviewed briefly but other plant and animal fibers are not discussed in detail. This review paper discusses all the six types of plant fibers such as bast, leaf, seed, straw, grass, and wood, together with animal fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers. Additionally, the review considers developments dealing with natural fibers and their composites. The fiber source, extraction, availability, type, composition, and mechanical properties are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of using each biofiber are discussed. Three fabric architectures such as nonwoven, woven and knitted have been briefly discussed. Finally, the paper presents the overview of the results from the composites made from each fiber with suitable references for in-depth studies.

The paper reports experimental research regarding the mechanical characteristics of concrete reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers like jute, sisal, sugarcane, and coconut. Each type of natural fiber, with an average of 30 mm length, was mixed with a concrete matrix in varying proportions of 0.5% to 3% mass. The tensile and compressive strength of the developed concrete samples with cellulosic fiber reinforcement gradually increased with the increasing proportion of natural cellulosic fibers up to 2%. A further increase in fiber loading fraction results in deterioration of the mechanical properties. By using jute and sisal fiber reinforcement, about 11.6% to 20.2% improvement in tensile and compressive strength, respectively, was observed compared to plain concrete, just by adding 2% of fibers in the concrete mix. Bending strength increased for the natural fiber-based concrete with up to 1.5% fiber loading. However, a decrease in bending strength was observed beyond 1.5% loading due to cracks at fiber−concrete interface. The impact performance showed gradual improvement with natural fiber loading of up to 2%. The water absorption capacity of natural cellulosic fiber reinforced concrete decreased substantially; however, it increased with the loading percent of fibers. The natural fiber reinforced concrete can be commercially used for interior or exterior pavements and flooring slabs as a sustainable construction material for the future.

The composites was made from a foam mortar matrix with Hydrolized protein reinforced textile waste fiber and the compressive strength, flexural strength and fracture morphology characteristics of the composite have been reported. This study investigated the effectiveness of adding textile fiber waste to lightweight mortar composites to improve the mechanical characteristics of the composites, reduce weight and minimize production costs of mortar composites. Mortar composites are fabricated by varying the volume fraction of textile waste fiber from 0 to 1.2% (of the composite density). The results revealed that the addition of textile waste fiber to the mortar composites decreased bending strength and bending modulus. The maximum compressive strength of the mortar composite was obtained at a volume fraction of 0.6% textile fiber waste (0.30167 MPa) and the lowest compressive strength of 0.149 MPa was owned by the mortar composite without textile fiber waste (composite BTA). This phenomenon caused by the fiber pull out, interface bond between textile waste fiber and matrix, as shown from the SEM photo. The addition of excess textile fiber waste from optimal conditions reduces mechanical performance due to increased voids in the mortar composite. However, this strategy helpful to reduce the weight of the concrete, reduce production costs and reduce textile waste.

Worldwide concern and ascendancy of emissions and carbon footprints have propelled a substantial number of explorations into green concrete technology. Furthermore, construction material costs have increased along with their gradual impact on the environment, which has led researchers to recognize the importance of natural fibers in improving the durability and mechanical properties of concrete. Natural fibers are abundantly available making them relatively relevant as a reinforcing material in concrete. Presently, it should be recognized that most construction products are manufactured using resources that demand a high quantity of energy and are not sustainable, which may lead to a global crisis. Consequently, the use of plant fibers in lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) is deemed a practical possibility for making concrete a sustainable material that responds to this dilemma. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the addition of lignocellulosic fibers on the performance of LFC. In this investigation, four different types of lignocellulosic plant fibers were considered which were kenaf, ramie, hemp and jute fibers. A total of ten mixes were made and tested in this study. LFC samples with a density of 700 kg/m3 and 1400 kg/m3 were fabricated. The weight fraction for the lignocellulosic plant fibers was kept at 0.45%. The durability parameters assessed were flowability, water absorption capability, porosity and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The results revealed that the presence of cellulosic plant fibers in LFC plays an important role in enhancing all the durability parameters considered in this study. For workability, the addition of ramie fiber led to the lowest slump while the inclusion of kenaf fiber provided optimum UPV. For porosity and water absorption, the addition of jute fiber led to the best results.

Textile waste is a significant environmental problem that contributes to landfills and pollution that causes greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling and reusing textiles and developing a product from waste is feasible. Moreover, it can bring new opportunities in the recycling industry and contribute to the circular economy. However, choosing a material to produce a composite and finding out all its properties is a big challenge that needs to be explored more. This research is based on the characterization of a natural fiber composite from textile waste for domestic as well as industrial applications. It involves the production of composite material from textile waste, which has suitable mechanical strength and impact properties for use in the construction, automotive and ballistic industries. Three recycled non-woven wastes– cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blend– are used. A roller speed of 200 rpm is chosen to produce carded mesh. The shredded textiles are then mixed with epoxy resin. The pressing technique with the help of compression moulding is used to produce composite samples. Mechanical tests were carried out to evaluate the young' s modulus, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and breaking elongation of the composites. It was found that with an increase in the volume percentage of fibers, the storage modulus of the prepared composites shows a higher value. Young's modulus, elongation at break, flexural strength and impact toughness increase with volume fraction up to 40 percent, but then the properties start to decrease again when mixing is done above 40 percent to 50 percent. The novelty lies in utilizing pre and postconsumer textile waste, including discarded personal protective equipment (PPE) and other textile wastes from the COVID-19 pandemic, as reinforcing fibers which contributes to textile waste recycling and also providing a better alternative to existing materials like pine wood, maple, oak and wood plastic composite for possible use in domestic items as well as construction and automotive industry at a lower cost.

Concrete is probably the most extensively used construction material in the world. The modern concept of construction is directed at the use of recycled materials, in particular, various waste products. This solves a number of problems -saving the expensive materials; - decreasing CO2 emissions by reducing the production of construction materials, so, these can also be used as refractory materials. Plant fibers are the most abundant fiber among all the natural fibers. Bamboo, palm, sisal, jute, date kernel, flax etc. are the commonly known plant fibers. Plant fibers are also called cellulosic fiber and have quite promising tensile strength. Natural Plant fibers treated by pyrolysis in concrete such as additions; determine the effect of these substances and the effect of temperature on the properties of concrete. The natural fibers in concrete are added accordingly with the percentage of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% by weight of cement concrete cubes are tested at the age of 7 and 28 days of curing. Natural waste treated by pyrolysis and different additives on concrete behavior to improve its performance in the future to use in Civil Engineering and Construction World. The optimum result for natural fibers was observed at 1.0% for bamboo and date kernel and 1.5% for palm oil of natural fiber.

Physico-mechanical and morphological behavior of hydrothermally treated plant fibers in cementitious composites

Bitumen draining in stone mastic asphalt mixtures has become a potential problem. Due to the storage and laying temperatures as well as difficulties in providing the necessary compaction, the temperatures of the asphalt mix cannot be lowered to prevent or reduce drainage. In stone mastic asphalts, generally cellulose or mineral-based fibers are preferred to reduce draining down of bitumen. Conventional fibers commonly used in stone mastic asphalt increase pavement costs because they are expensive. The aim of this research is investigation of textile waste used to prevent bitumen drainage problem in stone mastic asphalt pavements instead of traditional fibers. Following the determination of the bitumen content, Marshall Stability tests, Schellenberg bitumen drainage test and Indirect Tensile Strength tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the stone mastic asphalt mixtures in comparison to mixes containing textile waste. The results indicated that it is possible to produce stone mastic asphalt mixes with textile waste that exhibits similar mechanical properties mixes including cellulose fiber. Moreover, it was found that samples prepared with textile waste exhibits advantage in terms of cost compared to samples prepared with cellulose fiber.

Natural plant fibers such as sisal, ramie, flax, kenaf, jute, banana, coir, etc. are emerging alternatives to manmade fibers like glass, aramid and carbon fiber for many reason like their physical properties, viz., low density, renewability, recyclability as well as biodegradability. Over the past several years, composites made from natural fibers have become an attractive domain of research interest for most of the academicians and researchers. Extensive research and innovation have been conducted in the domain of polymer composites made with plant fibers as reinforcement due to their numerous advantages over the artificial fiber composites like eco-friendliness, natural properties, sustainability etc. Apart from these advantages concerned with environmental safety and protection, the composites made from natural fibers possesses many other advantages like high strength to weight ratio, less damage to processing equipment, low overall cost, less energy consumption during production and their easy hybridization with synthetic as well as other natural fibers. Therefore, natural fibers have become a significant and important part of the composite industry. Natural plant fibers can be reinforced with thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers but their suitability with polymer matrix is a significant aspect in governing the mechanical characteristics of polymer composites. Composites reinforced with natural plant fibers have some disadvantages like moisture absorption, inferior mechanical strength and weak fire resistance which can be overcome by their surface modification and through addition of various coupling agents. These composites have increasingly become a popular choice for several engineering industries including automobile, aerospace and sporting industries.In this chapter, various natural plant fibers are introduced and discussed and their mechanical properties are explored. Composites made from polymer matrix like thermoplastics and thermoset are then discussed; subsequently, the advantages and lighter load engineering applications of polymer composites embedded within natural fibers that are applied to numerous engineering sectors are presented.

This research aims at studying the mechanical properties of industrial hemp fibers and promoting their use as a reinforcing composite material for strengthening of civil engineering structures. Natural hemp fibers are of great interest due to the following advantages they have: low cost, high strength-to-weight ratio, low density and non-corrosive properties. The use of plant fiber composite materials has increased significantly in recent years because of the negative reduction impact on the environment. For example, the tendency to use renewable resources and their possibility for recycling. They cause fewer health and environmental problems than synthetic fibers. Natural fibers, in addition to environmental aspects, have advantages such as low densities, i.e. have low weight, interesting mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic fiber materials, and last but not least, low cost. Composites based on natural plant fibers can be used to reinforce or repair reinforced concrete structures, as shown by research on flax fiber composites. These concretes specimens strengthened with biocomposite materials have very good resistance to bending and significantly increase the rigidity of the structure. The results show that the hemp fiber reinforcement has significant effects on the strengthening and increase in flexural strength from 8% to 35 %.

By leveraging the properties of natural or plant fibers and possibilities through three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, a composite filament was fabricated by incorporating newly isolated Cryptostegia grandiflora fiber (CGF), as a reinforcement with polylactic acid (PLA) by using a twin-screw extruder. The fabricated composite filament and pure PLA filament were 3D-printed, using fused deposition modeling (FDM). This study investigated the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of the 3D-printed CGF reinforced composite filament samples. The mechanical properties of the samples fabricated with 10 wt% CGF were better than that of samples with pure PLA. In addition, impact, tensile, flexural strengths and hardness were increased by 35.6, 33.6, 14.1, and 1.7%, respectively, when compared with the sample with pure PLA. The fractured surface morphology of tensile samples showed a uniform distribution of CGF within the PLA. The addition of CGF improved the thermal stability of the 3D-printed CGF/PLA composite sample by 15%. Therefore, the printed structure could serve as an alternative material for various uses, considering contemporary concepts of sustainability, availability, environmental friendliness, and cost effectiveness.

For centuries, mankind has been clothed using natural cellulose and protein fibers that have been almost entirely derived from dedicated sources. Cultivation of fiber crops and rearing of silkworms and sheep have been the traditional methods of obtaining cellulose and protein fibers, respectively. However, fiber crops were not just sources for clothing, but the by-products generated were major sources for food and means for substantial income. For instance, cotton seeds have been used as a source for oil and also as animal feed. Among the different types of fibers, natural cellulose fibers, mainly cotton, have been the most common source for fibers. Recently, the cultivation of cotton and other natural fibers has been declining due to the difficulties in growing cotton, better profits from biofuel crops such as corn and soybeans, and limited technological improvements in processing and using cotton-based textiles. Similarly, the supply of petroleum resources required for synthetic fibers at affordable prices could be questionable in the near future. At any given time, it can be expected that fuel needs would predominate the use of petroleum resources for textile fibers. In addition, increasing consumption, especially in the developing countries, constraints on the natural resources required to produce fibers, and inability to increase the supply proportionate to the demand are expected to make most of the current fibers either too expensive or unavailable for commodity applications. This scenario is neither unrealistic nor unforeseeable. The production of natural fibers such as cotton is declining due to cotton farmers shifting to more profitable biofuel crops such as corn and soybeans. These biofuel crops are also less demanding in terms of resources required for cultivation, harvesting, and processing into final products. The decrease in cotton production could escalate further due to the demand for biofuels.

Improving textile waste biodegradation through fungal inoculation

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical and thermal properties of aquatic wastewater hyacinth plant natural power, ash and fibre reinforced polymer composite samples. This work is primarily concerned with creating sustainable products from this aquatic waste in a sustainable manner. Hyacinth plant fibres, powders and ash particles are used in this work as reinforcement material for composite samples, which are made by utilising the hot press compression moulding technique and epoxy matrix. In this study, new mechanical way of fibre extraction process is used to extract the fibres of the water hyacinth. Mechanical strength and thermal properties thermo gravimetric analysis, differential thermo gravimetric, thermo gravimetric peaks of hyacinth composite samples are evaluated. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques are used to characterise the hyacinth composite. A scanning electron microscope is used to examine the fractured surfaces of hyacinth composite sample samples. By using this technique, fibre clusters, fibre fractures and fibre pull-outs can be identified. Waste management and waste recycling concepts are heavily influenced by this manuscript. The zero-waste concept has been achieved through this work. According to all the findings of this study, the natural plant fibres from the water hyacinth plant and ash particles can be used as reinforcement materials in conjunction with an epoxy resin matrix for making lightweight particleboard products and other lightweight materials in general.