Importance of Chemically Treated Natural Fibers in the Fabrication of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

Natural fibers (NFs) as a substitute of synthetic or lab grown fibers in fiber reinforced plastics have rapidly expanded and opened up a wide scope in many industrial applications and contexts. NFs possess several benefits, including low overall expense, low density, and biodegradability. In practice, the major flaw existing in the use of NFs for reinforcements within composites of polymer composites is their immense degree of absorption of moisture, low dimensional stability, etc. This chapter analyzes the various surface treatment processes that are provided to natural fibers for advancing their physico-mechanical properties, which greatly affect the natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs). Various chemical treatment processes are suitably detailed. The main objective of the surface treatment of NFs is to exaggerate the bonding strength so that it could increase the stress transferability of the composites. The mechanical performance of NFRPCs mainly depends on the aspect ratio, their water loving nature, and the dimensional stability of NFs. The chemical treatment of fibers also contributes to improve the fiber density and weaken their thermal stability. Therefore, chemical treatment processes should be adopted to customize the fiber's surface properties to improve the physico-mechanical properties of the polymer composites and not for any purpose beyond this.