Types Of Natural Fibers Research Articles

Techno-economic Analysis of a Hybrid Solar Dryer with a Vacuum Tube Collector for Hibiscus Cannabinus L Fibre

Solar energy is one of several types of renewable energy and has numerous applications. Types of solar energy include photovoltaic, thermal, and thermophotovoltaic modes. Drying is an application of thermal solar energy which is used to remove water from a sample. This study aims to evaluate certain open drying methods as compared with modern thermal drying methods. The dried samples were a type of natural fibre commonly known as kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus L). The test amounts were 175kg and 1400kg, respectively. Thermal drying uses several components, including an evacuated tube collector, water storage tank, heater, air intake, a pump and a drying chamber. The parameters to be measured included weight, water content, time, and electricity usage. Dryer performance was evaluated in terms of water extraction rate, exact water extraction rate, specific energy usage, dryer operational costs, and specific operational costs. The results of the evaluations indicate that drying with the maximum load of 1400 kg increased the extracted water, specific water extraction rate, and dryer operational costs by 97.27 kg/hour, 39.86 kg/kWh, and 3.72 Malaysian ringgit (approximately 0.90 USD). Specific energy consumption and specific operating costs fell by 0.10 kWh/kg and 0.05 Malaysian ringgit/kg (0.012 USD/kg). Based on these findings, economic analysis was carried out to estimate the profitability and best frequency of drying. The results indicate that a maximum load of 1400 kg is superior to the open drying method, with an annual yield and ROI period of RM 64992 (15,723 USD) and 3.7 years, respectively

An experimental study for different types of natural fiber reinforced composite material

In the present study, the mechanical properties of plain-woven natural fiber reinforced composites (NFRC) are investigated. Three types of natural fibers: Cotton, Kenaf and Wool; are used to reinforce Epoxy-based overlaid composites. In addition, E-type fiberglass/Epoxy composite material is brought to check for comparison with NFRC’s. The mechanical properties of samples exposed to tractable, shear and flexural loadings are obtained. The results showed that the ratio of the specific tensile strength of the cotton/epoxy laminates to laminates reinforced with kenaf or wool fiber is equal to 1.71 and 4.47 times, respectively. Under shear loading, the specific strength of the cotton samples was also 1.24 and 2.45 times greater by changing the kenaf and wool fibers to cotton fiber, respectively. In addition, the specific flexural strength of the cotton/epoxy composites was 1.42 and 2.34 times greater than kenaf/epoxy and wool/epoxy composites. Moreover, the specific energy absorption related to the cotton/epoxy laminated composites under tensile loading is 2.7 times greater than that of the glass fiber reinforced laminated composites. At the end, in order to measure the amount of water absorbed by different samples, moisture absorption test was also carried out at intervals of 3 and 10 days. It was revealed that the greatest percent of the water absorption (7.47%) is related to the cotton reinforced specimen at an interval of 10 days.

Characterization of Natural Fibres and Their Polymer-based Composites

Development of new alternative materials having the superior characteristics than traditional material has become a new buzz to the researchers. One of the achievements in this field is fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs). The most fascinating aspect of FRPCs is light weight but higher strength and chemical resistance. Further to obtain a biodegradable one natural fibre are taking place of synthetic fibre in the processing of NFRPCs. Researchers have done extensive research works on NFRPCs to expand it application field. But sometimes only natural fibre reinforcement cannot fulfil the design requirement. Hybridization with synthetic fibre reinforcement can significantly improve the physical and mechanical properties despite of processing parameters. Again, nanoparticle fillers are also helpful to enhance the mechanical properties. The aim of this study is to clarify the use of different types of natural fibres as reinforcement to fabricate polymer composites and their corresponding mechanical properties for particular application which will be helpful to design NFRPCs for different application.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Knitted Fabrics Produced from Various Fiber Types

Although there are several parameters affecting fabric behavior, one of the most important factors that determines the fabric properties is the fiber type and its features. Many types of natural and chemical fibers can be used according to the usage areas and expected performance characteristics from the fabrics. Therefore, it has great importance to know the effects of fiber types, which have different sources, structures and properties, on the fabric properties. In this study, the performance and thermal comfort properties of nine different knitted fabrics made from natural, regenerated and synthetic fibers were investigated. Within this scope, air permeability, abrasion resistance, bursting strength, thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal resistance and thermal absorptivity of knitted fabrics made from different fiber types were measured. In general, it is concluded that the characteristic properties of the fibers are important in determining the mechanical and thermal properties of the fabrics.

Spectral reflectance characterization and fiber type discrimination for common natural textile materials using a portable spectroradiometer

Component identification of textile materials is an important issue for studies of cultural heritage collections and science conservation. Portable spectroradiometer technology as a potential technique can be utilized to discriminate mass natural fibers rapidly and nondestructively. The goal of this study was to examine the feasibility of portable spectroradiometer to natural fiber type discrimination in the spectral range covering visible and near infrared (VNIR) (350–1000 nm), shortwave infrared 1 (SWIR1) (1000–1850 nm) and SWIR2 (1850–2500 nm). For this purpose, reflection spectra of four types of natural fibers commonly used in archaeological textiles were measured using a portable spectroradiometer under standardized conditions. The spectral features of four categories of natural fibers in different wavelength ranges were extracted and compared. To further explore the potential of discriminating the fiber types using portable spectroradiometer, principal component analysis in combination with statistical tests was applied. The results indicated that fiber type had a strong influence on the spectral features, which was much more remarkable than the influences of the intra-class variation and physical properties. Moreover, with large inter-class variation and small intra-class variation, SWIR2 was more suitable for fiber type identification than VNIR and SWIR1, which was also validated in the statistical analysis. Besides, the approach of selecting effective principal components in different wavelength ranges could provide a more optimized combination of differential information for the correct assignment of the investigated natural fiber types of textile materials. In general, portable spectroradiometer could be a powerful technique for on-site fiber type discrimination.

Numerical Investigation of Hybrid of Eglass and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Tube Pressurized Internally

The composite hybrid pipe is a novel structure made of concentric composite multilayer possess improved thermal and mechanical properties better than its original components. At variance experimental analysis, the numerical studies on the structure and behavior of composite hybrid natural fiber reinforced epoxy pipe materials pressurized internally seem lacking. In this study, numerical analysis was carried out for three different stacking plies of composite hybrid natural fiber ±55° basalt and Eglass fiber reinforced epoxy tube which was tested under the subjection for three modes of applied load, the hoop and longitudinal tensile tested as well as subjection under biaxial internal pressures load in accordance to ASTM’s standard to investigate the mechanical behavior and the optimal configuration among them. Also, analyzed the comparable three types of hybrid natural fiber (basalt)/Eglass reinforced epoxy with pure ±55° Eglass reinforced epoxy and pure ±55° basalt reinforced epoxy numerically to predict the performance for the hybrid over the pure E-glass and basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composite pipe as a good replacement to meet the different demand of applications in the pressure pipelines. Also The three stacking plies types of hybrid composite pipes were compared with the pure E-glass and basalt fiber reinforced epoxy pipes. All samples were fabricated using a dry filament wound CNC machine with ±55° orientation angle, then infused with epoxy resin using vacuum infusion procedure (VIP). Numerical analysis was carried out using finite element commercial code ANSYS V14.

Flexural and energy absorption properties of natural-fiber reinforced composites with a novel fabrication technique

Abstract In this paper, two types of natural fibers (jute fiber and cotton fiber) were arranged in different cross-section positions on natural fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (NFR-EC) by using a novel hole arrangement–threading–glue filling method. A three-point bending experiment was carried out to reveal the flexural response, failure types, and energy absorption properties of NFR-EC. An analytical model was applied to analyze the force distribution of natural fibers and epoxy in NFR-EC. Results showed that the hole arrangement–threading–glue filling method successfully manufactured an NFR-EC, which can adjust the volume fraction and cross-section position of natural fibers and the cross-sectional shape of NFR-EC. The addition of fibers below the neutral axis of the cross-section significantly improved the flexural properties and energy absorption capacity of NFR-EC.

A review of natural fiber composites: properties, modification and processing techniques, characterization, applications

There has been much effort to provide eco-friendly and biodegradable materials for the next generation of composite products owing to global environmental concerns and increased awareness of renewable green resources. An increase in the use of natural materials in composites has led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint of composites. In addition to the benefits obtained from green materials, there are some challenges in working with them, such as poor compatibility between the reinforcing natural fiber and matrix and the relatively high moisture absorption of natural fibers. Green composites can be a suitable alternative for petroleum-based materials. However, before this can be accomplished, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed, including poor interfacial adhesion between the matrix and natural fibers, moisture absorption, poor fire resistance, low impact strength, and low durability. Several researchers have studied the properties of natural fiber composites. These investigations have resulted in the development of several procedures for modifying natural fibers and resins. To address the increasing demand to use eco-friendly materials in different applications, an up-do-date review on natural fiber and resin types and sources, modification and processing techniques, physical and mechanical behaviors, applications, life-cycle assessment, and other properties of green composites is required to provide a better understanding of the behavior of green composites. This paper presents such a review based on 322 studies published since 1978.

Mechanical Behaviour of Areca Nut, Sunn Hemp Natural Fibers and E Glass Fibers Reinforced With Epoxy Composites

In this paper, tensile behaviour of the natural fiber composites such as the areca nut composites and the sunn hemp composites were determined. The fibers were arranged in different orientations such as the uniaxial, biaxial and the criss-cross arrangements. For both the types of fiber composites, specimens were made with and without the incorporation of E-glass fibers. Comparisons were done on the basis of fiber orientation, E-glass fibers incorporation and the type of natural fiber used. Initially, the fibers were treated with alkali, i.e. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in order to get better bonding at the fiber-matrix interface. The conventional hand lay-up technique followed by the soft compression molding technique was carried out for fabricating the composite specimens. It was inferred from the results that the tensile strength was more for uniaxial arrangement and the least for biaxial arrangement in case of both the fibers. Further, for both the fibers, E-glass fiber incorporation increased the tensile strength as compared to the non-incorporated E-glass fiber composites. Also, sunn hemp composites showed better tensile strength than areca nut composites. The research suggested that the areca nut and sunn hemp composites were assets to many potential applications that did not require very high load bearing capabilities. These examined composites can be considered as very reliable materials for fabrication of lightweight materials used in automobile industry, packaging materials, medical field, etc.

Green Bio Composites for Food Packaging

Petroleum-based synthetic polymers are mostly used for packaging materials for their advantageous features such as flexibility, lightness and transparency. However, the waste caused by the increasing usage has led to serious environmental impacts. There are many packaging products claimed as ‘green’ material in the market but, they are not fully from natural renewable resources. Most biocomposites materials comprised only either the matrix or fiber/filler from natural renewable resources, but still blended with another synthetic compound. Thus, green biocomposites which composed of fully biodegradable natural fibers and biopolymer matrix would be a great alternative. It can be naturally degraded and completely return to the environment safely after usage. The main shortcomings of biopolymer are their inadequate of mechanical and barrier properties in product application. Yet, the embedding reinforcing fibers or fillers would help in improving the final properties of the composites. The intention of this review is to present the latest development of green biocomposites research and its application for food packaging. It is also proposed to provide critical information that covers around properties of green biocomposites, types of available biopolymers and natural fibers, including their manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, the economic circumstances and forthcoming trend of these materials in food packaging industry would also be reviewed

An experimental investigation on properties of sisal fiber used in the concrete

Abstract Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is a concrete restrain fibrous material which increases its structural integrity. There are various types of fiber available like natural fiber, artificial fiber. The real contribution of the fiber is to increase the hardness of the concrete under any type of loading. Fiber-reinforced concrete is most familiar in India, but structural applications are very much limited. The FRC used for heavy-duty industrial floors. The fiber reinforced concrete is used in tunneling projects and for slope stabilization in India. To analyze the physical and mechanical properties of fiber mixed concrete by a lab test. In this project, the M30 concrete mix is used and the beam size used 1400 mm * 200 mm in size.

Effect of Subang Pineapple Leaf Fiber Loading on Flammability and Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Environmentally friendly composites are composites with one or all of the constituent elements being natural materials. Indonesia with high biodiversity resources produces a lot of various types of natural fibers as reinforcements, one of them is pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). This study aimed to determine the effect of Subang PALF contents on flammability, impact resistance, and hardness of polypropylene (PP) / Subang PALF composites. Three compositions of PALF in PP were fabricated by hot press method. Pristine PP samples were also prepared for comparison. Flammability, impact, and hardness test results showed that composites with 40 wt.% PALF were the best with their respective values of (15.7 ± 0.4) mm/minute, (31.6 ± 4.5) J/cm2, and (60.5 ± 2.01) HD.

Development of acoustic insulating materials from recycled textile fiber

Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for recycling materials and hence for greater environmental friendliness. The issue of waste management and recycling is a very actual topic in the society of most developed countries. One area where the vast amount of waste is generated every year is the textile industry. Textile waste (old clothing, fashion accessories, car upholstery, home textiles and other textile products) is most often made up of a combination of different types of natural fibers (cotton, silk) and man-made fibers (polyester, viscose). Thanks to the large amount of this waste and recycling technologies available, the secondary textile fibers are an interesting secondary raw material that can be used for the production of thermal and acoustic insulators. The article describes research results in the development of medium and heavy insulating mats usable in vertical constructions and floating floor structures.

Mechanical properties of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites

A study on the hybrid composites reinforced by two types of short natural fibres is presented. The material properties of short natural fibre composites were obtained by Mori–Tanaka method. Three-point bend test was simulated by the classical beam theory and finite element analysis. Both asymmetric and sandwich hybrid composites were studied. From the results, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. A general rule is that one lamina of higher stiffness should be placed on the tensile face of a hybrid composite in order to obtain improved flexural strength. 2. For the sandwich-type hybrid composites, the higher stiffness material should be placed in the core, and the lower stiffness material should be the skin.

An Experimental Investigation on Tensile and Impact Properties of Bagasse/Polypropylene Natural Composite

Sugarcane bagasse is one of the most abundant types of natural fibers which can be utilized to fabricate natural composite materials. Since bagasse is one of the wastes of Khuzestan province sugarcane factories, recycling might be an opportunity to enjoy its economic and environmental benefits. In the present study, the mechanical and microstructural properties of Bagasse/Polypropylene natural composite fabricated by the injection molding method were investigated. Bagasse fibers after the drying process were mixed up to polypropylene with 10, 30, 40 and 50% weight fraction of bagasse. In order to investigate the mechanical properties, experimental tests consist of tensile test and Charpy impact tests were carried out. The results showed that the maximum material strength was obtained from the sample made of 40% weight fraction of bagasse. The strength of 40% bagasse was found about 10%more than 50% bagasse. The microstructural analysis indicated that the failure mechanism of 40% bagasse was mainly affected by fiber breakage. However, the main failure mechanism of 50% bagasse was changed to fiber pull out. Additionally, impact absorbed energy was significantly decreased by increasing the bagasse weight fraction.

Critical Review of the Parameters Affecting the Effectiveness of Moisture Absorption Treatments Used for Natural Composites

Natural composites can be fabricated through reinforcing either synthetic or bio-based polymers with hydrophilic natural fibers. Ultimate moisture absorption resistance at the fiber–matrix interface can be achieved when hydrophilic natural fibers are used to reinforce biopolymers due to the high degree of compatibility between them. However, the cost of biopolymers is several times higher than that of their synthetic counterparts, which hinders their dissemination in various industries. In order to produce economically feasible natural composites, synthetic resins are frequently reinforced with hydrophilic fibers, which increases the incompatibility issues such as the creation of voids and delamination at fiber–matrix interfaces. Therefore, applying chemical and/or physical treatments to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks is of primary importance. However, it is demonstrated through this review study that these treatments do not guarantee a sufficient improvement of the moisture absorption properties of natural composites, and the moisture treatments should be applied under the consideration of the following parameters: (i) type of hosting matrix; (ii) type of natural fiber; (iii) loading of natural fiber; (iv) the hybridization of natural fibers with mineral/synthetic counterparts; (v) implantation of nanofillers. Complete discussion about each of these parameters is developed through this study.

Mechanical properties of sisal-epoxy composites as functions of fiber-to-epoxy ratio

Low density, low cost, environmental compatibility, wide availability, and high mechanical performance of raw materials are some considerable advantages of natural fiber composites. Sisal, very common type of natural fiber, is abundantly available in Ethiopia. This research aims to investigate mechanical properties of sisal reinforced composites such as tensile, flexural and impact strength. Fabrication of samples used the hand lay-up process with 15, 25, 30, 35, and 40 wt% sisal fiber to epoxy ratio. Tests for the properties indicated were made using the instron material testing system. Test results demonstrated, among the samples, that 30 wt% of sisal fiber-reinforced composites have the maximum tensile and flexural strength of 85.5 MPa and 85.79 MPa respectively. The impact strength has been found to be maximum for 40 wt% sisal fiber which is 24.5 kJ/m². As the result show, and compared with other researcher findings, the mechanical properties are acceptable as substitutes for applications demanding low-cost engineering applications such as automotive internal parts including interior door panel, back seat and body panels.

Green composites: A review of processing technologies and recent applications

Biocomposites are considered as the next-generation materials as these can be made using natural/green ingredients to offer sustainability, eco-efficiency, and green chemistry. Nowadays, biocomposites are being utilized by numerous sectors, which include automobile, biomedical, energy, toys, sports, and so on. In this review article, an effort has been made to provide a comprehensive assessment of the available green composites and their commonly used processing technologies for the sake of materials’ capabilities to meet up with demands of the present and forthcoming future. Various types of natural fibers have been investigated with polymer matrixes for the production of composite materials that are at par with the synthetic fiber composite. This review article also highlights the requirements of the green composites in various applications with a view point of variability of fibers available and their processing techniques. This review is specially done to strengthen the knowledge bank of the young researchers working in this field.

Natural Fibre Composites and Their Applications: A Review

There is significant work published in recent years about natural fibres polymeric composites. Most of the studies are about the characterization of natural fibres and their comparison with conventional composites regarding mechanical behaviour and application performance. There are dozens of types of natural fibres with different properties influencing their use, or not, in specific industrial applications. The natural origin of these materials causes, in general, a wide range of variations in properties depending mainly on the harvesting location and conditions, making it difficult to select the appropriate fibre for a specific application. In this paper, a comprehensive review about the properties of natural fibres used as composite materials reinforcement is presented, aiming to map where each type of fibre is positioned in several properties. Recent published work on emergent types of fibres is also reviewed. A bibliometric study regarding applications of natural fibres composites is presented. A prospective analysis about the future trends of natural fibres applications and the required developments to broaden their applications is also presented and discussed.

A review on dielectric properties of biofiber-based composites

The ever increasing consumption and subsequent disposal of electronic goods is a major concern to the environment since most electronic goods contain non-biodegradable components. Regulations on disposal of e-goods and increasing environmental awareness on their use and disposal will necessitate finding alternative materials for electronic goods in the near future. One approach of making electronic goods more environmentally friendly is by developing biodegradable electronic components using natural cellulose and protein fibers. In fact, several studies have been done on using natural fiber-based materials for various electronic components. The presence of various functional groups that are amicable to modifications and the ability to be easily fabricated into various shapes and sizes are some of the advantages of using natural fibers for electronic and electrical applications. However, natural fibers and fibrous materials have considerably high variations in their properties which makes it difficult to precisely control the properties of the products developed. Also, the type of electronic components and the fabrication and testing conditions also vary significantly between reports which makes it difficult to make a comparison between studies Dielectric materials are one of the most common and critical components in electronic goods. A comprehensive report on the type of natural fibers used in the development of dielectric materials and their electrical properties would be useful to select the appropriate fibers and conditions for specific applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the various types of natural fibers used to develop composites for dielectric applications. Dielectric constants of fibers and composites made from the fibers with and without chemical modifications and at various frequencies and fiber contents have been discussed.