Development Of Natural Fiber Composites Research Articles

Exploring the development and applications of sustainable natural fiber composites: A review from a nanoscale perspective

As a result of global sustainable development, natural fiber composites (NFCs) have become increasingly attractive due to their remarkable performance, novel functionality, and eco-friendliness. Natural fibers are biodegradable, affordable, and low-density, which makes them potential materials for use in developing alternatives to traditional petroleum-based synthetic fiber composites. However, challenges such as inadequate compatibility between natural fibers and matrix limit the further development of NFCs. Studies have shown that molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can offer valuable insights into the fundamental properties and deformation mechanisms governing the macroscopic performances of NFCs, including mechanical properties, thermal stability, and interfacial interactions. Based on the underlying understanding of the nanostructure of natural fibers, these fibers can be modified at nanoscale to improve the performance of NFCs. This paper first reviews the hierarchical structures of natural fibers, mainly wood and bamboo fibers, highlighting their relationship with mechanical and thermal properties. Treatments to improve natural fiber-matrix compatibilities are then presented. The fundamental factors behind the functionalized properties of modified NFCs are emphasized from the nanoscale. Additionally, applications of NFCs as structural and functional materials in the construction, automotive, and aerospace industries are reviewed. Finally, this paper identifies the growing use of machine learning-assisted MD simulation techniques to facilitate the design of NFCs. Literature and data sources for this study were obtained through a combination of online academic databases, citation chaining, government databases, and industry reports.

Evaluation of the Fracture Strength of Polyester Composite with Pineapple Leaf Fiber Reinforcement

The development of natural fibre composites is needed to replace synthetic composites which are difficult to decompose. However, natural fibre composites have many weaknesses that need to be studied, including being brittle and easily cracked. One of the things carried out in this research is a material derived from unsaturated polyester which is reinforced with natural fibers from pineapple leaves which are used to reduce the percentage of synthetic materials from polyester which can form composites that are easily decomposed. With this research, engineering in the engineering field such as in the field of raw materials for fishing boat bodies, tourist boat bodies, and fishing boats is very helpful. This unsaturated polyester mixture with 20% pineapple leaf fibre has the highest critical stress intensity factor of K_1c= 1.733 MPa.m0.5, an increase from K_1c= 0.779 MPa.m0.5 in pure unsaturated polyester. With the highest performance, this material can withstand good fracture strength, making it good and useful for engineering applications. This research increased the toughness and crack resistance of the UP material treated with the addition of the SN mixture by 222.47%.

Towards in-situ acoustic emission-based health monitoring in bio-based composites structures: Does embedment of sensors affect the mechanical behaviour of flax/epoxy laminates?

Monitoring integrity of operating structures has become a crucial need in industrial applications while motivation for more sustainable materials pushes forward the development of natural fibre composites (NFC). The complexity and variability of their failure behaviour and mechanical properties still limit the exploitation of their full potential. Acoustic Emission (AE) has shown promising results to predict remaining service life of structures, allowing identification, localisation and assessment of damages in composite materials. Thus, embedment of AE sensors could be a reliable solution for real-time Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). This paper aims to quantify the effect of embedded millimetre-sized metallic inserts mimicking sensor integration on material integrity under tensile and bending loads by means of Digital Image Correlation , AE, and infrared thermography . Results show a limited effect on monotonic tensile properties , driven by the size of the sensor, while highlighting an increase of strain and stress at failure under three-point bending. Tensile-tensile fatigue resistance is only slightly affected by the embedment of sensors, with a small increase in the S–N curve slope. Overall results suggest that the embedment of miniature sensors in NFC is possible and could be a suitable solution for damage assessment and health monitoring in such sustainable structures.

Recent developments and challenges in natural fiber composites: A review

AbstractThe continuous demands for reducing environmental impact and energy consumption are the major driving factors for the development of natural fiber (NF)‐reinforced composites (NFRCs). The huge demand for sustainable materials in industries leads to the usage of NFs in product developments. These NFs are more attractive due to their lightweight, cost‐effectiveness, ease of availability, and environmentally friendly aspects. Green composites are the best alternatives in place of petroleum‐based composites which meet the current industrial requirements. In recent years, researchers are more focused on the development of NF composites as a potential candidate in real‐life applications due to economic advantages. This review gives a brief overview of NFs introduction, types, economic aspects, and the recent developments in NFRCs with an analysis of mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties. Moreover, the water absorption behavior, applications, and challenges in using NFs are also studied in this review. Additionally, this review will motivate the researchers for further developments and exist as foundation literature for upcoming researchers.

Effect of chemical treatment on mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composites

Reuse, recycling and disposal are the important aspects of present day application of material used for construction of buildings, machines or any other domestic appliances, etc.For various environmental considerations, the use of sustainable, eco friendly or green concepts have become mandatory in the development of any technology for process or material. This work is focused on development of natural fiber composites and their products using the fibers of Thespesia Lampas and Hibiscus Cannabinus plants. These fibers long and soft and are very much in use in the domestic sector for various products. Laminates are made using these fibers and general purpose isopthalic resin. Tensile, flexural and Water Absorption tests are conducted to evaluate the properties. Unidirectional and cross woven mats are used for making the laminates, the mats are also coated with poly vinyl alcohol to study its effect on various properties. In each case of the laminate, the fibers are considered with treatment of NaOH also to find the consequence of treatment on the properties.

Mechanical properties of Roystonea regia – Glass/epoxy composites with SiC particles

Extensive research has been made in the last decade for the development of natural fibre composites. This development provided more opportunities to engineers and researchers to come up with variety of natural fibre composites that exhibit excellent mechanical properties. In the present work, Roystonea regia natural fibre was used along with the glass fibre in the epoxy matrix. The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and hardness properties were determined at different fibre contents of the composites with or without the addition of silicon carbide ceramic fillers. The results reveal that, there is a significant improvement in tensile and hardness properties in the composites having equal weight percentage of royastanea regia and glass fibre without ceramic fillers, whereas flexural strength increased with the addition of ceramic fillers.

The Effects of Different Chemical Treatment Methods and Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polyethylene on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of <i>Alpinia galanga</i> Fiber Reinforced Polyethylene Composites

In this study, the effect of different treatments and the addition of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) on the mechanical and thermal properties of Alpinia galanga (AG) fiber/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were investigated. The AG fibers were pretreated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and then treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APE) as well as treated with p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). The samples were first prepared by melt blending method before being injected to specimen dumbbell shape using an injection moulding machine. Three different fiber loadings were studied, such as 3, 6, 10 and 15 wt%. The tensile test results revealed that the NaOH and 3-APE treatments increased the tensile strength of AG/HDPE composites with the addition of MAPE at all fiber loadings, whereas tensile strength of PTSA treatment improved at 3 wt% fiber loading. The morphological studies confirmed a better adhesion between treated fiber and HDPE matrix with the inclusion of MAPE. Thermal analysis study showed that NaOH, 3-APE and PTSA treatments on AG fibers improved the thermal stability of the composites with an addition of MAPE by delaying the thermal degradation of the composites. The water absorption test proved NaOH and 3-APE treated fiber exhibited lower water absorption than other composites with the inclusion of MAPE. Overall, the results indicated that chemical treatment with NaOH and 3-APE with the presence of MAPE is a good approach towards the development of natural fiber composites.

A Review on Development of Natural Fibre Composites for Construction Applications

This paper is a review of the past researcher of feasibility of the usage of natural fibre composites in various civil engineering applications and also the advantages and limitations of natural fibres reinforced composites. As the world is gathering attention towards the renewable resources for environmental purposes, studies of natural fibre have been increasing further due to the application of natural fibre throughout various industries such as aerospace, automobiles and construction sectors. This paper is started with brief information regarding the natural fibre composite materials, the natural fibre composite for structural and infrastructure applications, its advantages and also its limitations. With their unique and wide range of variability, natural fibre composites could emerge as a new alternative engineering material that can substitute the use of synthetic fibre composites.

Recent Researches In Polylactic Acid Reinforced With Natural Fiber Composites– A Literature Review

Growing interest in the development of natural fiber composites have been witnessed over a period of last decade which is attributed to low cost, availability, eco friendliness. The large scale production and use of natural fiber reinforced composites is limited due to degradation by micro organisms, water absorption, low strength. These issues are addressed by using various fiber modification techniques such as biological, physical or chemical modifications. This paper addresses the recent developments in surface modifications of the NFRP composites ( Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer). The various effects of such modifications have also been discussed.

Recent Developments in Luffa Natural Fiber Composites: Review

Natural fiber composites (NFCs) are an evolving area in polymer sciences. Fibers extracted from natural sources hold a wide set of advantages such as negligible cost, significant mechanical characteristics, low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, environmental friendliness, recyclability, etc. Luffa cylindrica, also termed luffa gourd or luffa sponge, is a natural fiber that has a solid potential to replace synthetic fibers in composite materials in diverse applications like vibration isolation, sound absorption, packaging, etc. Recently, many researches have involved luffa fibers as a reinforcement in the development of NFC, aiming to investigate their performance in selected matrices as well as the behavior of the end NFC. This paper presents a review on recent developments in luffa natural fiber composites. Physical, morphological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and acoustic properties of luffa NFCs are investigated, categorized, and compared, taking into consideration selected matrices as well as the size, volume fraction, and treatments of fibers. Although luffa natural fiber composites have revealed promising properties, the addition of these natural fibers increases water absorption. Moreover, chemical treatments with different agents such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and benzoyl can remarkably enhance the surface area of luffa fibers, remove undesirable impurities, and reduce water uptake, thereby improving their overall characteristics. Hybridization of luffa NFC with other natural or synthetic fibers, e.g., glass, carbon, ceramic, flax, jute, etc., can enhance the properties of the end composite material. However, luffa fibers have exhibited a profuse compatibility with epoxy matrix.

A REVIEW OF ABACA FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES: DIFFERENT MODES OF PREPARATION AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have received increased attention due to their environmental friendliness and sustainability, aside from at par - if not better - property enhancement achieved through fiber reinforcement over mineral-based fillers. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review on the various methods of fiber-based polymer composites preparation as well as their applications, particularly focusing on abaca-reinforced hybrid materials. Among the natural fibers available in the market, abaca fiber has been a major contender in the development of natural fiber composites. It has a great potential to be a renewable fiber source for industrial and technological applications owing to its inherent high mechanical strength, durability, flexibility and long fiber length. Impacts of different treatment strategies of abaca-based composites preparation resulting in property enhancements over bare polymer counterparts and that of synthetic fibers are discussed. Being eco-friendly and naturally sustainable, abaca fiber-reinforced composites can also exhibit better strength without substantial weight gain – characteristics that have been exploited in various commercial and technological uses. How these enhanced properties of the resulting composites had led in a wide range of applications such as in the automobile and construction industries and other fields had been included as well.

Recent Developments in Palm Fibers Composites: A Review

There is a growing interest in the development of natural fiber composites (NFC), alternate to the existing artificial fiber composites. In recent years, the application of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite structures has received increasing attention due to their advantages of low cost, environmental friendliness and favorable biocompatibility over synthetic fiber composite materials. Every year, palm harvesting generates tons of biomass wastes around the globe, whereas these fibers have the potential to be recycled and involved in the development of palm natural fibers composites (PNFC). This paper presents a review on the recent developments in palm natural fibers composites. Various palm types and their extracts such as sugar palm, oil palm, date palm, and peach palm are included in the review. Furthermore, their physical, mechanical, morphological, electrical, and thermal properties are reviewed. It is observed that palm fibers can be applied with a variety of resins like epoxy, polyester, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene since these PNFCs reveal a set of remarkable characteristics.

An empirical research on areca fiber polymer composite for automotive components in modern industry

Recently the development of natural fiber composites instead of synthetic fiber has led to eco-friendly product manufacturing to meet various applications in the field of automotive, aerospace, construction and manufacturing. The use of natural fibers offers an alternative to the synthetic reinforcing fibers because of their good mechanical properties, low density, renewability, and biodegradability. Different natural fibers are generally utilized as reinforcement in thermoplastic polypropylene (PP) matrix to prepare composites. In this paper, experimental investigation of natural fiber i.e., Areca fiber reinforced with polypropylene polymer matrix is done to analyze the Mechanical and Thermal properties of polymer composite. The modification of composite is done by using Maleic Anhydride (MA) during preparation of composite material. Different fractions of composites with 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 15 wt% fiber content were prepared in twin extruder and 3 wt% of Maleic anhydride was added during the mixing process. Mechanical and Thermal properties such as Tensile strength, Bending strength, Elongation at break, Water absorption capacity, Heat Distortion Temperature (HDT) of areca fiber and PP composites were investigated. The above composite polymers are used in manufacturing the components of automobiles such as passenger car interiors, indicator cover, door panels, door pockets, rear view mirror covers.

Study of Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites

The need of eco friendly material or specific use in automobiles and construction industries has lead to the development of natural fibre composites. Most of the available natural fibres are renewable and posses relatively high strength, stiffness and thermal stability etc. Presently natural fibres are focus of many designers and research scholar due to its low cost and abundant availability in nature. Moreover, processing of these fibres is still going on using conventional production method. Natural fibre composites are being used since ancient Egypt, where straw and clay were mixed together to build walls. The most important type of natural fibre used as composites are flex hemp, jute, straw, bamboo stick etc. which are used due to their desired properties and easy availability. In this paper review of different properties such as Mechanical, Chemical and Thermal properties of natural fibre composite is presented. The main objective of this paper is to study and investigate the existing properties of natural and common composite fibres and to promote the use of natural fibre which is economical and against environmental aggressive material.

Mechanical properties of natural fibre polymer composites

Abstract Extensive efforts have been made in the last decade for the development of natural fibre composites. This development paved the way for engineers and researchers to come up with natural fibre composites (NFCs) that exhibit better mechanical properties. The present review is based on the mechanical properties of jute, abaca, coconut, kenaf, sisal, and bamboo fibre-reinforced composites. Before selecting any NFC for a particular application, it becomes necessary to understand its compatibility for the same, which can be decided by knowing its mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact strengths. This review paper emphasises on the factors influencing the mechanical properties of NFCs like the type of matrix and fibre, interfacial adhesion, and compatibility between matrix and fibre. Efforts are also made to unveil the research gaps from the past literatures, as a result of which it is inferred that there is very limited work published in the field of vibration incorporating potential fillers such as red mud and fly ash with NFCs.

EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL AND WATER ABSORPTION BEHAVIOUR OF COIR AND RICE HUSK REINFORCED COMPOSITES

Coconut coir and rice husk are abundantly available in nature with the very low cost, and rice husk is an agricultural waste, which is thrown away by the industry. The development of natural fiber composites from coconut coir and rice husk powder will reduce agriculture waste and increases its usable value. Composite specimens were prepared according to the ASTM standards with three different weight fractions of fiber, filler, and epoxy (5:15:80, 10:10:80, and 15:5:80) and conducted some mechanical tests such as impact test and hardness test and water absorption behaviour. From the results it was found that, the mechanical properties of untreated coir fiber and rice husk powder composites are more as compared to treated coir fiber and rice husk powder composites, but in the case of water absorption property.

Recent development and future trends in coir fiber‐reinforced green polymer composites: Review and evaluation

Development of natural fiber composites with thermoplastics and thermosets finds applications in various fields, from agriculture to automotive. It can reduce the dependency on petroleum resources which causes several environmental problems. Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable that reduces carbon footprint to the environment. Coir fibers are natural fibers used in the development of composites offers comparable properties with other mineral fillers. This article reviews different methods of coir fiber modification include alkali treatment, silane treatment, hydrogen peroxide treatment, sodium hypochlorite treatment, sodium periodate treatment coupled with p‐aminophenol and urea, treatment with benzene diazonium salt and maleated coupling agent. It also reviews composites of coir fiber with thermoplastic, rubber and thermoset plastics. Hybrid composites based on coir fiber are also being discussed. Thermoplastic composites such as biodegradable (PLA, PBS) and petroleum‐based polymers (PE, PP) and thermoset polymers include polyurethane, epoxy and polyester based composites also reviewed. Degradation and biodegradation studies were reviewed in the case of biodegradable polymers. Hybrid fibers of coir with other natural and mineral fibers have recently been used in composite industry has also been reviewed. All these composites show better properties. It can be used in different applications in the field of automobile, building and construction, consumer products and furniture. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3296–3309, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Hemp Reinforced Composites with Alkalization and Acetylation Fibre Treatments

The increasing ecological and environmental concerns have led to the development of natural fibre composites. Chemical treatments are usually used to modify the surface of fibre to improve the bonding between fibre and resin. Alkalization and acetylation were used in this study to treat the hemp fibre. It was found that the chemical treatments remove the impurity and lignin, increasing the cellulose content of the hemp fibre. Removal of the surface lignin and hemicelluloses also exposes more active hydroxyl groups from cellulose to react with matrix. All theses lead to the increase of mechanical properties. It is also noticed that excessive treatment is detrimental to the fibre internal structure itself and weaken the fibre.

Testing on Energy Absorption of Banana Fiber Polyester Composite

Natural fibers are now becoming a subject of interest to replace synthetic fiber as reinforcement materials where the development of natural fiber composites has been conducted in the last few decades. The objective of this research is to investigate the energy absorption capacity of banana fiber polyester composite and its specific energy absorption capacity as well. Banana fibers are extracted and cut into 10mm, 20mm and 30mm fiber length. Fabrication of rectangular bar as composite samples with different banana fiber length and fiber volume fraction (1%, 2%, and 3%) were conducted and the results are studied and analyzed. The information on energy absorption and specific energy absorption capacity are useful for applications such as automotive structures where the ability to absorb impact may save life. The increase of banana fiber content and length shows an increase of maximum load and energy absorption values for all specimens.

English

The bio-degradability issue of polymer composites is studied to focus more on the use of the natural fibers such as bagasse, coir, sisal, jute etc. This has resulted in creation of more awareness about the use of natural fibers based materials mainly composites. In past decade there have been many efforts to develop composites to replace non decaying materials based products. The abundant availability of natural fiber in India gives attention on the development of natural fiber composites primarily to explore value-added application avenues. Reinforcement with natural fiber in composites has recently gained attention due to low cost, easy availability, low density, acceptable specific properties, ease of separation, enhanced energy recovery, CO2 neutrality, bio-degradability and recyclable in nature. Isophthalic polyester resin are a broad class of resins specification is selected to impart desired properties and corrosion resistance. These resins can be used for moderate corrosion resistance applications to a temperature range around 180 ₒ F. Isophthalic resins exhibits good resistance to water, acid, weak bases and hydrocarbons such as gasoline and oil. Agricultural wastes can be used to prepare fiber reinforced polymer composites for commercial use. Although glass and other synthetic fiber-reinforced plastics possess high specific strength, their fields of application are very limited because of their inherent higher cost of production. In this connection, an investigation has been carried out to make use of coir; a natural fiber abundantly available in India. This investigation discusses the use of coir fiber and its current status of research. Many references to the latest work on properties, processing and application have cited in this paper.