A comprehensive review of techniques for natural fibers as reinforcement in composites: Preparation, processing and characterization

Sanjay M R; Suchart Siengchin; Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai; Mohammad Jawaid; Catalin Iulian Pruncu; Anish Khan

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.083

A comprehensive review of techniques for natural fibers as reinforcement in composites: Preparation, processing and characterization

Carbohydr Polym. 2019 Mar 1:207:108-121. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.083. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Authors

Sanjay M R¹, Suchart Siengchin², Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai³, Mohammad Jawaid⁴, Catalin Iulian Pruncu⁵, Anish Khan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center of Innovation in Design and Engineering for Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: mcemrs@gmail.com.
² Center of Innovation in Design and Engineering for Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: suchart.s.pe@tggs-bangkok.org.
³ Center of Innovation in Design and Engineering for Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: jawaid@upm.edu.my.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd., London, UK; Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK.
⁶ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 30599990
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.083

Abstract

Designing environmentally friendly materials from natural resources represents a great challenge in the last decade. However, the lack of fundamental knowledge in the processing of the raw materials to fabricate the composites structure is still a major challenge for potential applications. Natural fibers extracted from plants are receiving more attention from researchers, scientists and academics due to their use in polymer composites and also their environmentally friendly nature and sustainability. The natural fiber features depend on the preparation and processing of the fibers. Natural plant fibers are extracted either by mechanical retting, dew retting and/or water retting processes. The natural fibers characteristics could be improved by suitable chemicals and surface treatments. This survey proposes a detailed review of the different types of retting processes, chemical and surface treatments and characterization techniques for natural fibers. We summarize major findings from the literature and the treatment effects on the properties of the natural fibers are being highlighted.

Keywords: Characterization; Chemical treatment; Extraction method; Natural fiber; Surface treatment.

Publication types

Review