Fabrication of Borassus fruit lignocellulose fiber/PP composites and comparison with jute, sisal and coir fibers

A bibliometric review on applications of lignocellulosic fibers in polymeric and hybrid composites: Trends and perspectives

Over the past 10 years, materials science and engineering have shown increasing interest in incorporating lignocellulosic fibers into polymer and hybrid composites (LCF-CPH). This bibliometric analysis, covering the period 2012 to 2022, examines the current state of research on the application of these fibers in composites, with the aim of identifying significant contributions, new trends, and possible future directions. The analysis included a comprehensive database search using specific criteria, which revealed a significant increase in research activity on a variety of lignocellulosic fibers, such as flax, jute, hemp and sisal. This growth is particularly evident in the packaging, automotive, aerospace and construction industries. Hybrid composites based on these fibers have gained prominence due to their enhanced properties, which include improvements in mechanical, thermal and environmental characteristics. The findings of this research have significant implications for governments, corporations, and academic institutions. Researchers gain a deeper understanding of emerging trends, industry gains valuable insights into the advantages of adopting lignocellulosic fibers, and policymakers gain essential information to support the development of sustainable composites. In the field of advanced composites and sustainable materials, this work lays a solid foundation for future research and industrial applications.

Extracting and characterizing of a new vegetable lignocellulosic fiber produced from C. humilis palm trunk for renewable and sustainable applications

Research on natural fibers as greener substitutes for synthetic ones has surged in response to the growing need for sustainable materials. An underutilized natural resource, Chamaerops humilis trunk (ChT), is the subject of this study's extraction and characterization process. The work examines these fibers' possible uses in biocomposites by examining their structural, physicochemical, and mechanical characteristics. Numerous characterization techniques were used to evaluate ChT fibers (ChTFs) thoroughly, including density measurement, diameter determination, analysis of the fibers' moisture content, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, water absorption tests, and tensile testing. Experimental results show that ChTFs possess an average density of 0.97 g/cm3, an average diameter of 562 ± 60 μm, a moisture regain ranging from 7.94 to 8.63 %, an average linear density of 9.338 Tex, heat resistance to 225 °C and a mean traction resistance of 45.08 ± 9.92 MPa. Such findings underscore the significance of comprehending the ChT's mechanical characteristics to enhance fiber-reinforced composites and explore their possible uses in the textile sector besides their promising reinforcements in biocomposites and as a source of biomass for renewable bioenergy.

PP/Jute Fiber Composites: Effect of Biological Route of Surface Treatment and Content of Jute on Composites

Jute as a fiber has many applications. It is also used in polymers as reinforcement due to its good tensile properties. However, when it is used in polymer matrices, there is a lack of adhesion between the polymer and jute fiber. Surface treatment of fiber using chemicals has been found to improve the properties. However, the use of chemicals causes environmental pollution, when these chemicals are discharged into the environment. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the effect of the biological route to surface treat the jute fiber. The effect of surface treatment on the morphology of jute was examined. A comparative study was on the crystalline, thermal, and tensile fracture morphology of the composites to understand the effect of the incorporation of untreated and treated jute fibers in polypropylene (PP).

Effect of surface treatment on the technological properties of coconut fiber-reinforced plant polyurethane composites

Polymeric composites reinforced with plant fibers have numerous advantages, such as low cost, high raw material availability and good physical, mechanical and thermal properties. Thus, in recent years, they have been studied as thermal insulation substitutes for synthetic polymers in buildings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technological properties of castor oil-based polyurethane composites reinforced with coconut fibers treated with hot water, alkaline solutions of NaOH and Ca(OH)₂ and corona discharge and without surface treatment as materials for the thermal insulation of buildings. The composites were produced by the hand lay-up method followed by compression; 10% by weight coconut fibers were used to replace the synthetic polymer. Specimens were produced, and physical, mechanical, thermal and microstructural tests were performed. The results showed that the polymer had a thermal conductivity of 0.016 W/(mK), while the composites produced with fibers treated with NaOH had a thermal conductivity of 0.028 W/(mK); therefore, these polymers are considered insulating materials (k = 0.01 to 1.0 W/(mK)). Thus, the composites produced with coconut fibers can be considered as lighter, less expensive and environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic polymers.

A Review of the Use of Coconut Fiber in Cement Composites

The use of plant fibers in cementitious composites has been gaining prominence with the need for more sustainable construction materials. It occurs due to the advantages natural fibers provide to these composites, such as the reduction of density, fragmentation, and propagation of cracks in concrete. The consumption of coconut, a fruit grown in tropical countries, generates shells that are improperly disposed of in the environment. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the use of coconut fibers and coconut fiber textile mesh in cement-based materials. For this purpose, discussions were conducted on plant fibers, the production and characteristics of coconut fibers, cementitious composites reinforced with coconut fibers, cementitious composites reinforced with textile mesh as an innovative material to absorb coconut fibers, and treatments of coconut fiber for improved product performance and durability. Finally, future perspectives on this field of study have also been highlighted. Thus, this paper aims to understand the behavior of cementitious matrices reinforced with plant fibers and demonstrate that coconut fiber has a high capacity to be used in cementitious composites instead of synthetic fibers.

Investigation on Elastic Constants of Microfibril Reinforced Poly Vinyl Chloride Composites Using Impulsive Excitation of Vibration

The creation of tenable green composites is in high demand, due to ecologically available resources paving the way for applications to thrive in the manufacturing, aerospace, structural, and maritime industries. Hence, it is vital to understand the performance characteristics of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The elastic constants of coir fiber powder-reinforced plasticized polyvinyl chloride composite are determined using impulsive excitation vibration in this study. The optimization study on the elastic constants was carried out using Box-Behnken experimental design, based on response surface methodology, having three factors of fiber content (wt.%), fiber size (μm) and chemical treatments. The results were evaluated using analysis of variance and regression analysis. Additionally, experimental and optimized results were compared, leading to error analysis. Young's modulus of 18.2 MPa and shear modulus of 6.6 MPa were obtained for a combination of fiber content (2 wt%), fiber size (225 μm), and triethoxy (ethyl) silane treatment, which is suitable for various electrical, automotive, etc., applications.

A review on Borassus flabellifer lignocellulose fiber reinforced polymer composites

Natural fiber composites play an important role for developing high performance engineering materials due to its facile availability, recyclability and eco-friendly nature. Borassus flabellifer products are significant and economical for urban and rural areas, and its fruit, leaf stalk and leaves are used in domestic purposes and some of them are disposed as waste. This waste part of Borassus flabellifer serves as a potential resource for natural fibers and utilized as raw material for reinforced polymer composites. The aim of this article narrates a comprehensive overview of Borassus fibers and its composites. Alkali treatment techniques, different fabrication methods, preparation of different matrices reinforced with bio-fibers and chemical, mechanical, thermal, morphological properties of Borassus fibers and its composites have been studied. Overall, this review article highlights, investigates and identifies gaps of the earlier research work, and provides the resourceful data for future work in various streams with Borassus fiber as reinforcement.

Injection Molding of Coir Coconut Fiber Reinforced Polyolefin Blends: Mechanical, Viscoelastic, Thermal Behavior and Three-Dimensional Microscopy Study

In this study, the properties of a polyolefin blend matrix (PP-HDPE) were evaluated and modified through the addition of raw coir coconut fibers-(CCF). PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites were prepared using melt blending processes with CCF loadings up to 30% (w/w). CCF addition generates an increase of the tensile and flexural modulus up to 78% and 99% compared to PP-HDPE blend. This stiffening effect is caused by a decrease in the polymeric chain mobility due to CCF, the higher mechanical properties of the CCF compared to the polymeric matrix and could be an advantage for some biocomposites applications. Thermal characterizations show that CCF incorporation increases the PP-HDPE thermal stability up to 63 °C, slightly affecting the melting behavior of the PP and HDPE matrix. DMA analysis shows that CCF improves the PP-HDPE blend capacity to absorb higher external loads while exhibiting elastic behavior maintaining its characteristics at higher temperatures. Also, the three-dimensional microscopy study showed that CCF particles enhance the dimensional stability of the PP-HDPE matrix and decrease manufacturing defects as shrinkage in injected specimens. This research opens a feasible opportunity for considering PP-HDPE-CCF biocomposites as alternative materials for the design and manufacturing of sustainable products by injection molding.

Natural Composite Reinforced by Lontar (Borassus flabellifer) Fiber: An Experimental Study on Open-Hole Tensile Strength

A research has been conducted in the present study to investigate the effect of hole configuration on tensile strength of lontar fiber-reinforced composites. The lontar fiber-reinforced composites used in this study were produced by hand lay-up process. The lontar fiber-reinforced composites consist of short random fiber of 5 cm that contains 32% of nominal fiber volume as the reinforcement and unsaturated polyester as the matrix. The results show that the differences of hole configuration have an effect on tensile strength of lontar fiber-reinforced composites. It is found that the specific area of four-hole specimens experiences smaller strain propagation due to the redistributed stress and no stress passes through the hole. The damage of lontar fiber-reinforced composites with different hole configurations in tension is fairly straight and transverse to the loading axis, where the initial damage occurs in the form of matrix cracking, propagates into interfacial failure in form of delamination, and ultimately failed mainly due to the fiber breakage.

New type of thermoplastic bio composite: nature of the interface on the ultimate properties and water absorption

A new type of thermoplastic bio composite with coir fibre derived from coconut was fabricated by means of plasma modification of the polymer surface.