Injection-molded natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites\u2013a review

M S Rabbi,G M Sadiqul Islam,Tansirul Islam

doi:10.1186/s40712-021-00139-1

Abstract

For the last couple of decades, researchers have been trying to explore eco-friendly materials which would significantly reduce the dependency on synthetic fibers and their composites. Natural fiber-based composites possess several excellent properties. They are biodegradable, non-abrasive, low cost, and lower density, which led to the growing interest in using these materials in industrial applications. However, the properties of composite materials depend on the chemical treatment of the fiber, matrix combination, and fabrication process. This study gives a bibliographic review on bio-composites specially fabricated by the injection-molding method. Technical information of injection-molded natural fiber reinforcement-based composites, especially their type and compounding process prior to molding, are discussed. A wide variety of injection-molding machines was used by the researchers for the composite manufacturing. Injection-molded composites contain natural fiber, including hemp, jute, sisal, flax, abaca, rice husk, kenaf, bamboo, and some miscellaneous kinds of fibers, are considered in this study.

Highlights

Researchers are being attracted to study the fabrication of bio-composites because of the growing interest in using these composites
It is because the bio-composite material possesses some magnificent qualities when contrasted with that of synthetic fiber based
This review article discussed the details of the IM process and associated operations to fabricate natural fiber composites

Summary

Introduction

Researchers are being attracted to study the fabrication of bio-composites because of the growing interest in using these composites. This study represents a comprehensive and rigorous review of the previous studies It depicts the research works by different researchers on key features of the IM process, and its application in fabricating natural fiber-reinforced composites. Fibers and polymers were kneaded by Haake Rheomix 3000 batch kneader and compounded by Berstorf ZE 40 co-rotating twin-screw extruder, molded using Demag Ergotech 25–80 compact type IM machine. The defibrillated flax and polypropylene were fed into a twin-screw extruder (HaakeRheomex CTW 100) for compounding and molded in a Battenfeld Plus 250 IM machine. The oven-dried mixtures were blended in a thermo-kinetic mixer (kmixer), and after that, the mixed materials were fed into Davis–Standard twin-screw extruder They investigated the sample properties prepared by varying the fiber content (ranges 1-20%).

22.5 Japan Steel Works

Findings

Conclusion