Application of Natural Fiber Composites in Engineering Industries: A Comparative Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 854 ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
S. Syath Abuthakeer ◽  
Ramakrishnan Vasudaa ◽  
Afsana Nizamudeen

Today’s technological innovations call for continual improvement in the field of material science to substitute the heavy structures with lightweight materials without compromising the strength. For this purpose composite materials (combination of two or more materials) are developed. The incorporation of natural fibers as reinforcing agent in both thermoset and thermoplastic polymer composites has gained increasing applications both in many areas of engineering and technology. A variety of natural fibers based polymer composite materials have been developed using modified synthetic strategies to extend its application from automotive to biomedical fields. The eco friendliness and reduction in wear and tear aspects in machineries with the use of natural fiber composites also has been captured in this paper. This paper is an earnest compilation of the data regarding a variety of natural fibers, their physical and mechanical properties, their resilience and strength. Considerable effort has been put in bringing the data on various natural fiber composites in one place by cutting out the details from various sources so as to make it as a ready reckoner for any researcher for future research in this area.

Fibers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Timothy K. Mulenga ◽  
Albert U. Ude ◽  
Chinnasamy Vivekanandhan

The study of natural fiber-based composites through the use of computational techniques for modelling and optimizing their properties has emerged as a fast-growing approach in recent years. Ecological concerns associated with synthetic fibers have made the utilisation of natural fibers as a reinforcing material in composites a popular approach. Computational techniques have become an important tool in the hands of many researchers to model and analyze the characteristics that influence the mechanical properties of natural fiber composites. This recent trend has led to the development of many advanced computational techniques and software for a profound understanding of the characteristics and performance behavior of composite materials reinforced with natural fibers. The large variations in the characteristics of natural fiber-based composites present a great challenge, which has led to the development of many computational techniques for composite materials analysis. This review seeks to infer, from conventional to contemporary sources, the computational techniques used in modelling, analyzing, and optimizing the mechanical characteristics of natural fiber reinforced composite materials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 915-921
Author(s):  
Balsam H. Abed ◽  
Ali A. Battawi

Abstract Renewable resources are used to create useful, biologically sustainable materials. It has the potential to minimize waste while also challenging existing research and developments. Several researchers have concentrated their efforts on natural fiber composites. Natural fibers include plant, mineral, and animal fibers. In this project fish scales, a bio-waste, were used as a reinforcing agent in polyester/polystyrene for the fabrication of composite materials in the different weight fractions of 0, 6, 7, 9, and 11%, at a constant load of 1 N and temperature of 20 and 26°C. The hand layup technique was used to create the fabrication setup for composite materials. The creep behavior, modulus of elasticity, and stress were studied experimentally.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2220
Author(s):  
Zaida Ortega ◽  
Francisco Romero ◽  
Rubén Paz ◽  
Luis Suárez ◽  
Antonio Nizardo Benítez ◽  
...  

This paper compares the mechanical properties of different natural fiber composites produced by rotational molding as a way of waste valorization from campaigns to control invasive plant species in Macaronesia. Rotomolded parts produced with polymeric matrices (polyethylene) and filled with up to 20% by weight of cellulosic fibers obtained from Arundo donax L., Pennisetum setaceum, and Ricinus communis plants were characterized in terms of tensile, flexural, and impact strength. It was found that the sieving of natural fibers allowed for their introduction in higher loadings, from 10 (for un-sieved material) to 20%; fiber size greatly affected the mechanical properties of the final parts, although some combinations were proven not to reduce the mechanical properties of the neat resin. This study is a first approach to the valorization of residues obtained from periodic campaigns of the control of invasive species performed by public authorities, usually at the local level. It is important to highlight that the main objective of this research did not focus on economically profitable activity; instead, it was focused on the reduction of wastes to be disposed from ecosystem maintenance actions and the investment of potential income into preservation policies.


Author(s):  
Faris M. AL-Oqla

The available potential plant waste could be worthy material to strengthen polymers to make sustainable products and structural components. Therefore, modeling the natural fiber polymeric-based composites is currently required to reveal the mechanical performance of such polymeric green composites for various green products. This work numerically investigates the effect of various fiber types, fiber loading, and reinforcement conditions with different polymer matrices towards predicting the mechanical performance of such natural fiber composites. Cantilever beam and compression schemes were considered as two different mechanical loading conditions for structural applications of such composite materials. Finite element analysis was conducted to modeling the natural fiber composite materials. The interaction between the fibers and the matrices was considered as an interfacial friction force and was determined from experimental work by the pull out technique for each polymer and fiber type. Both polypropylene and polyethylene were considered as composite matrices. Olive and lemon leaf fibers were considered as reinforcements. Results have revealed that the deflection resistance of the natural fiber composites in cantilever beam was enhanced for several reinforcement conditions. The fiber reinforcement was capable of enhancing the mechanical performance of the polymers and was the best in case of 20 wt.% polypropylene/lemon composites due to better stress transfer within the composite. However, the 40 wt.% case was the worst in enhancing the mechanical performance in both cantilever beam and compression cases. The 30 wt.% of polyethylene/olive fiber was the best in reducing the deflection of the cantilever beam case. The prediction of mechanical performance of natural fiber composites via proper numerical analysis would enhance the process of selecting the appropriate polymer and fiber types. It can contribute finding the proper reinforcement conditions to enhance the mechanical performance of the natural fiber composites to expand their reliable implementations in more industrial applications.


Materials ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryn Crawford ◽  
Sepideh Pakpour ◽  
Negin Kazemian ◽  
John Klironomos ◽  
Karen Stoeffler ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 1148 ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Joshua Jaya Prasad ◽  
Puli Suresh Kumar

Recently, there has been an exponential growth in research and innovation in the natural fiber composites (NFC) due to their diversified applications in the field of engineering. Biodegradability, light weight, formability and availability at low cost are the attractive merits of the natural fibers. Mechanical, Thermal and Machinabilty properties of Natural fiber composites have their own advantage and adoptability in the field of automobile, power plants, aeronautical, defense and naval applications. This review aims to provide an overview of the comparison of differ types of Natural fiber composites, factors that affect the mechanical, thermal and machinabilty of NFCs and their engineering applications.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152808372092584
Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais Naeem ◽  
Qasim Siddiqui ◽  
Muhammad Rafique Khan ◽  
Muhammad Mushtaq ◽  
Muhammad Wasim ◽  
...  

In recent times, there is a growing demand for low-cost raw materials, renewable resources, and eco-friendly end products. Natural fibers are considered as strong candidates to be used as a potential reinforcement for composite manufacturing. In the current study, natural fibers extracted from banana peel were coated with bacterial cellulose through a green biosynthesis approach as well as by a simple slurry dipping method. Thus, natural fibers from banana peel waste were used the first time, to produce bacterial cellulose-natural fiber composites. SEM analysis revealed good interaction between the hybrid fibers and the epoxy matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis results revealed that the degradation temperature increases because of the addition of bacterial cellulose on fiber surface, which improves the thermal stability. The maximum thermal decomposition temperature (405°C) was noticed for nanocomposites reinforced by banana fibers with bacterial cellulose deposited on their surface. Whereas the lowest weight loss was also found for the same sample group. The highest tensile strength (57.95 MPa) was found for SBC-BP/epoxy, followed by DBC-BP/epoxy (54.73 MPa) and NBP/epoxy (45.32 MPa) composites, respectively. Composites reinforced by both types of hybrid banana fibers shown comparatively higher tensile performance as compared with the neat banana peel fiber-epoxy composites, which can be attributed to the high strength and stiffness associated with the bacterial cellulose. Overall, this study suggests a successful and green route for the fabrication of natural fiber-reinforced composites with improved properties such as tensile strength and thermal stability.


Lubricants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Milosevic ◽  
Petr Valášek ◽  
Alessandro Ruggiero

In the framework of green materials, in recent years, natural fiber composites attracted great attention of academia and industry. Their mechanical and tribological characteristics, such as high strength, elasticity, friction, and wear resistance, make them suitable for a wide range of industrial applications in which issues regarding a large amount of disposal are to be considered since their environmental friendliness gives them an advantage over conventional synthetic materials. Based on the recent and relevant investigations found in the scientific literature, an overview focused on the tribological characteristics of composite materials reinforced with different types of natural fibers is presented. The aim is to introduce the reader to the issues, exploring the actual knowledge of the friction and wear characteristics of the composites under the influence of different operating parameters, as well as the chemical treatment of fibers. The main experimental tribological techniques and the main used apparatus are also discussed, with the aim of highlighting the most appropriate future research directions to achieve a complete framework on the tribological behavior of many possible natural fiber composite materials.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasina Mamtaz ◽  
Mohammad Hosseini Fouladi ◽  
Mushtak Al-Atabi ◽  
Satesh Narayana Namasivayam

The current study is a bibliographic observation on prevailing tendencies in the development of acoustic absorption by natural fiber composites. Despite having less detrimental environmental effects and thorough availability, natural fibers are still unsuitable for wide implementation in industrial purposes. Some shortcomings such as the presence of moisture contents, thicker diameter, and lower antifungus quality hold up the progress of natural fiber composites in staying competitive with synthetic composites. The review indicates the importance of the pretreatment of fresh natural fiber to overcome these shortcomings. However, the pretreatment of natural fiber causes the removal of moisture contents which results in the decrease of its acoustic absorption performance. Incorporation of granular materials in treated fiber composite is expected to play a significant role as a replacement for moisture contents. This review aims to investigate the acoustic absorption behavior of natural fiber composites due to the incorporation of granular materials. It is intended that this review will provide an overview of the analytical approaches for the modeling of acoustic wave propagation through the natural fiber composites. The possible influential factors of fibers and grains were described in this study for the enhancement of low frequency acoustic absorption of the composites.


2001 ◽  
Vol 702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhu Kandachar ◽  
Rik Brouwer

ABSTRACTAvailable as agricultural resources in many countries, natural fibers, such as flax, hemp, kenaf, exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic fibers like glass. But they are lighter, biodegradable, and are often claimed to be less expensive. Composites with these natural fibers have the potential to be attractive alternative to synthetic fiber composites. The natural fibers, however, exhibit more scatter in their properties, are thermally less stable and are sensitive to moisture absorption. The choice of matrix to reinforce with these fibers therefore becomes critical.Currently, synthetic non-biodegradable polymers, such as polypropylene, polyester, etc., are being explored as matrix materials, for applications in sectors like automobiles and buildings. Biodegradable polymers, if made available in sufficient quantities at affordable prices, pave way for bio-composites in future. With both matrix and fibers being biodegradable, bio-composites become attractive candidates from the environment point of view.Extensive and reliable property data on natural fiber composites and/or on bio-composites, are still lacking, making product design with these materials rather tedious. Once the database is available, design & manufacture of products with natural fiber composites and biocomposites offer several opportunities and challenges.


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