Abstract
Fibers derived from bio-based sources such as vegetables and animal origin are termed as natural fibers. This definition includes all natural cellulosic fibers (cotton, jute, sisal, coir, flax, hemp, abaca, ramie, etc.) and protein-based fibers such as wool and silk. There are also man-made cellulose fibers (e.g., viscose rayon and cellulose acetate) that are produced with chemical procedures from pulped wood or other sources (cotton, bamboo). Natural fibers being cost effective and abundantly available yields high potential in various industrial and commercial applications such as in the interior applications of the passenger cars, panels for partition and false ceiling, partition boards, roof tiles, coir fibers in packaging, furniture applications, as insulating materials in low energy houses, geo-textiles for soil protection and erosion control, enhancing barrier properties, composites etc. Due to research and developmental work in modification and treatment methods of natural fibers, utilization of natural fibers has observed a significant growth in various applications. The chapter addresses the potential applications of natural fibers in various commercial sectors for the development of environment-friendly products with an aim to replace synthetic fibers or inorganic fillers with cost-effective and efficient products.
Highlights
The transition toward a bio-based economy and sustainable developments as a consequence of the Kyoto protocols on greenhouse gas reduction and CO2 neutral production offers high perspectives for natural fiber markets
Changing to a biobased economy requires substitution of common raw materials that are currently largely produced from fossil or mineral resources, by-products produced from renewable resources [1]
Polymerization conditions Three-necked flask with reflux Reaction time: 2 hours Reaction temperature: 70°C
Summary
The transition toward a bio-based economy and sustainable developments as a consequence of the Kyoto protocols on greenhouse gas reduction and CO2 neutral production offers high perspectives for natural fiber markets. Changing to a biobased economy requires substitution of common raw materials that are currently largely produced from fossil (petrochemical) or mineral resources, by-products produced from renewable (plant and animal based) resources [1]. The development of a sustainable global economy, which permits improving purchasing power and living standards without exhaustion of resources for future generations, requires a fundamental change in attitude. On ecological grounds products should be preferred that are based on photosynthetic CO2 fixation [1]. The benefit of those sustainable resources is that they can be regrown within the foreseeable future, without negative side effects on global biodiversity.
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