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Screw pine root fibers are engineering fibers that have yet to be explored in terms of its chemistry with bio‐resin in biodegradable composites to replace nonbiodegradable thermoplastics used in packaging, automobiles, furniture, and industrial sectors. Screw pine root fibers are reinforced with soy, poly(vinyl alcohol), and soy‐poly(vinyl alcohol) resin systems in this work to create a variety of composites. Composites demonstrated highest amount of tensile strength at around 39.7 MPa, 37.6 MPa of flexural property, along with an impact strength around 12.4 kJ/m2. The thermal solidity of the optimized material was determined to be 235°C. After 24 hours of immersion, the composite had the lowest water absorption of 18.4%. All composites were shown to be biodegradable, losing about 54.2%–72.9% of their original mass after 60 days in soil burial. Unique characteristics such as the use of low‐cost agricultural materials, water‐based resin, stable composite, and properties such as moderately strong, safe disposal after service periods make these manufactured composites market feasible as consumer‐friendly/ecofriendly green products. Highlights: Screw pine root fibers were extracted from waste roots and used as reinforcement.The tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 39.7 MPa.The water absorption of hybrid composite was found 30.8% after 24 h.After 60 days under soil burial, composite lost 67.5% of its original weightDeveloped composites can be good alternant for nondegradable thermoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of the mechanical and thermal characteristics of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) composites reinforced by coir fiber powder (CFP) has been investigated by varying the weight percentage (wt%) of the reinforcement and annealing process. CFP/PLA composite filaments with CFP compositions of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt% were fabricated. These filaments were used to print CFP/PLA test specimens. The specimens were annealed at 90°C for 120 min in a hot air oven followed by cooling at room temperature. Mechanical, morphological, crystalline, and thermal characterizations were conducted on these specimens. The tensile and flexural strength of neat PLA were observed as 49.7 and 82.4 MPa which decreased by 6.4% and 8.13% respectively for printed composite specimens with 0.5 wt% CFP as reinforcement material. On the other hand, the annealed CFP/PLA composite specimen, with 0.1 wt% CFP as a reinforcement material, demonstrated higher tensile and flexural strength. Specifically, it exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 56.4 MPa and a maximum flexural strength of 92.9 MPa, which are 13.5% and 12.7% higher, respectively, than neat PLA. These strengths are 15.5% and 16.7% higher, respectively, than those of the unannealed CFP/PLA composite specimen with the same wt% of CFP reinforcement. The annealing process increased the crystallinity of composites by enhancing the crystallinity index (63%) and crystalline size (6.7 nm). The high thermal stability of composites (with a glass transition temperature of 256°C) makes them suitable for applications in food and medical packaging. Highlights: Enhancement of thermo‐mechanical characteristics of 3D printed bio‐composites.Annealing process improved mechanical features of 3D printed bio‐composites.Annealed composite with 0.1 wt% as reinforcement demonstrated better properties.SEM and XRD studies confirmed failure mechanisms and crystalline structure.Thermal and mechanical assets favor its utilization in food wrapping applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulosic fibers obtained from Barley straw were utilized to reinforce PHB. Four different processed fibers were employed as reinforcing material: sawdust (SW), defibered (DFBF), delignified (DBF), and bleached (BBF) fibers. The composite was processed from two different perspectives: a discontinuous (bach) and an intensification process (extrusion). Once processed and transformed into final shape specimens, the materials were characterized by mechanical testing (tensile mode), scanning electron microscopy, and theoretical simulations by finite elements analysis (FEA). In terms of mechanical properties, only the elastic moduli (Et) exhibited results ranging from 37% to 170%, depending on the reinforcement composition. Conversely, strengths at break, under both tensile and bending tests, tended to decrease, indicating poor affinity between the components. Due to the mechanical treatment applied on the fiber, DFBF emerged as the most promising filler, with mechanical properties closest to those of neat PHB. DFBF-based composites were subsequently produced through process intensification using a twin-screw extruder, and molded into flowerpots. Mechanical results showed almost identical properties between the discontinuous and intensification processes. The suitability of the material for agriculture flowerpots was demonstrated through finite analysis simulation (FEA), which revealed that the maximum von Mises stresses (5.38 × 105 N/m2) and deformations (0.048 mm) were well below the limits of the composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers are one of the most attractive materials in biocomposites due to their potential for sustainability. This study aims to prepare sustainable composite materials using fibers from Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) and to investigate their mechanical, morphological, and water absorption properties. The composite was prepared with epoxy resin through a manual hand lay‐up process, maintaining standard parameters with changeable reinforcement (10%, 20%, and 30%). The mechanical properties (tensile, impact, and flexural strength), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and water absorbency of the composites were evaluated. The result showed that the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance of the composites are 6.99 MPa, 10.77 MPa, and 14 J, respectively, for 30% fiber components, which are significantly higher than other composite materials. The SEM analysis showed a strong interfacial bond between the snake plant fiber and the epoxy resin. The FTIR analysis revealed a reduction in hemicellulose and lignin and an improvement in the interfacial adhesion between snake plant fiber and epoxy resin. The composites also demonstrated time‐dependent increases in water absorption, with the sample containing 30% fiber components showing the best absorbency performance at 0.88%. Highlights: A study is being conducted on the effective and sustainable use of biowaste.The composite materials loaded with 30% fibers had significantly high tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance.The SEM analysis of snake plant fiber‐reinforced polymer composite showed a strong interfacial bond between fiber and epoxy resin.The FTIR analysis of the composite revealed the reduction of hemicellulose and lignin.The use of non‐renewable materials is reduced, and eco‐friendliness is promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of banana pseudo stems is currently acknowledged as a sustainable raw material that piqued researchers' interest because of their high cellulose content, and good to moderate tensile strength. In order to develop various batches of biodegradable composite, peduncle fibers from waste banana peduncles were isolated and then reinforced after mild alkali treatment with biodegradable soy resin, phenol‐formaldehyde (resole), and soy‐resole resins via thermoforming (compressing) method. Peduncle fiber reinforced soy‐resole composite exhibited maximum tensile strength of 43.5 MPa and flexural strength of 36.2 MPa as a result of strong interaction/bonding between functional groups of the two biomaterials used here. All composites were put through a water sorption test, which showed that they are fairly hydrophobic by nature since after 24 h, they absorbed 10.2%–28.2% of water. These composites proved to be both eco‐friendly and biodegradable, since they broke down easily in the soil after 60 days and all of the composites lost about 70% of their original weight. These composites are anticipated to be used as an alternative to environment threatening plastic in indoor furniture, packaging, and computer cabinets. Highlights: Banana peduncle fiber was extracted from waste peduncle and used as reinforcer.The tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 43.5 MPa.The water absorption of composite was found 10.2% only after 24 h.After 60 days under soil burial, composite lost 70.8% of its original weight.Developed composites can be good alternant for non‐biodegradable thermoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Additive manufacturing is a recent technology used in the production of composite materials. The use of continuous fibres as reinforcement is necessary to achieve high mechanical performance. However, making these materials more environmentally friendly is still challenging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of 3D printing a composite made of continuous regenerated cellulose fibres using a standard 3D printer generally used for printing polymers. Design/methodology/approach: The production process was based on a pre-impregnated filament made from a tape containing continuous cellulose fibres and Pebax® matrix. 3D printed composite samples were fabricated using fused deposition modelling. The tape, filament and 3D printed composites were first analysed by means of modulated differential scanning calorimetry and micrography. Tensile tests were then performed, and the mechanical characteristics were determined at each step of the production process. Fracture surfaces were investigated by field-emission gun–scanning electron microscopy. Findings: Results showed that the mechanical behaviour of the material was maintained throughout the production process, and the 3D printed biocomposites had a stiffness equivalent to that of traditionally manufactured continuous cellulose fibre composites. The obtained 3D printed composites showed an increase in strength value by a factor of 4 and in tensile modulus by a factor of 20 compared to those of unreinforced Pebax® polymer. Originality/value: This paper demonstrates the feasibility of 3D printing composites based on continuous cellulose fibres, paving the way for new biocomposites made by additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation seeks to assess the impact of fillers on the mechanical characteristics of entirely biodegradable composites, introducing an advanced solution to fulfil long-term durability demands within point-of-purchase (POP) industries. The inclusion of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) fillers on the various properties of the flax fibre-reinforced composites, after accelerated irradiation in an ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure has been investigated in the present study. Different types of flax fibre-reinforced poly lactic acid (PLA) biocomposites (with and without filler) were fabricated. The mechanical (tensile and flexural), and physical properties of the specimens were assessed after 500 h of exposure to accelerated UV irradiation of 0.48 W/m2 at 50 °C and were compared with those of the unexposed specimens. The results indicate that the presence of the inorganic filler significantly improved the performance of the biocomposites compared to the unfilled biocomposites after UV exposure. After adding 20% of fillers, the tensile strength was increased by 2% after UV degradation, whereas the biocomposite without filler lost 18% of its strength after UV exposure. This can be attributed to the change in the photo-degradation of the PLA due to the presence of the CaCO3 filler, which acts as a safeguard against UV light penetration by creating a protective barrier. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the degraded specimen surface show substantial difference in the surface topography of the composites with and without fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effects of adding montmorillonite and eggshell particles on the mechanical, morphological and water absorption properties of bamboo fiber reinforced composites for filler contents ranging from 1wt% to 3wt%. The results show an improvement in the water absorption, the thickness swelling and the mechanical properties of composites with a maximum filler content of 3wt%. Herein, the water absorption was reduced by 37.8 ± 0.29% and 25.7 ± 0.28% the montmorillonite and eggshell powder filled composites, respectively. The thickness swelling was similarly decreased by 36.9 ± 1.3% and 27.8 ± 0.23%, respectively. Under ambient relative humidity, the tensile and bending strengths and modulus of 3wt% montmorillonite and eggshell particle filled composites were found to drastically increase. However, they were slightly enhanced under wet conditions. The swelling, porosity as well as the dispersion quality of particles were analyzed and seemed to reduce the mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work investigates the effects of the concentration and treatment of chopped false banana (Ensete ventricosum) fibres on the mechanical properties of a polypropylene matrix. The chopped false banana fibres (FBFs) were modified using Aloe Vera gel following treatment with 5% NaOH for 12 h at room temperature, with 1% acetic acid used to neutralise the remaining NaOH. FBF-reinforced polypropylene composite plates were then manufactured with 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt.% of chopped FBF. The mechanical properties were investigated using the compressive, impact, and three-point bending tests. Regarding the mechanical properties of the FBF-reinforced polypropylene composites, it was found that they have a maximum average compressive strength of 17.2 MPa. A maximum bending strength of 12.109 MPa was found for the Aloe Vera gel-treated composite with 30 wt.% of FBF. The maximum average compressive strength for this composite was 17.19 MPa. A maximum bending strength of 9.97 MPa for untreated composites was recorded for the composite with 10 wt.% of FBF. Finally, Aloe Vera-treated FBF-reinforced composites have better mechanical properties than untreated ones. The mechanical properties of Aloe Vera-treated FBF-reinforced polypropylene composites, as determined via impact, compressive and flexural tests, were superior for composites with 30 wt.% of FBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-derived epoxy green composites were fabricated using waste tea fibers and their durability was studied under aggressive environments. The fibers were first mercerized and subsequently functionalized with maleic anhydride. Functionalization resulted in improved adhesion as well as uniform distribution of the fibers in the matrix. Although, the tensile strength was lower than the pristine, improvements were recorded in their mechanical strengths (tensile strength up to 16.1 MPa) compared to un-modified ones, with good elongation at break (23.8%). The green composites also demonstrated good thermal stability up to 244 °C. On investigating the durability toward disparate chemical and physical environments, all the materials exhibited high resistance under extreme temperatures (2 and 70 °C) and UV irradiation and showed remarkable enhancements in tensile strength after aging (up to 65.8% and 49.5%, respectively). This study ensured promising outdoor applications of this green composite derived using waste materials as a benign durable material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ever‐increasing rise in demand for sustainable materials has received significant attention in developing biocomposites for structural applications. In this regard, natural fibers replacing synthetic fibers as reinforcement in epoxy composite could be a significant gain toward sustainability, especially in automobile and structural applications. Herein, flax fiber/cellulose paper–reinforced epoxy biocomposite (FREC‐X) was fabricated via a vacuum infusion process. The influence of postcuring conditions (time and temperature) and cellulose paper density on the mechanical properties of FREC‐X was studied. The tensile strength and modulus of FREC‐X increased by 37% and 64%, respectively, upon the integration of paper. Postcuring FREC‐X further augmented the tensile and flexural properties of the composite, which could be attributed to the increase in cross‐linking of the epoxy and yields a strong polymer network. Fractography analysis confirmed that the composites integrated with paper showed fewer defects with improved interfacial adhesion. In addition, the water absorption and thickness swelling results revealed that the presence of cellulose paper marginally increased the water uptake and thickness swelling of FREC‐X. Furthermore, there was no significant change in the tensile and flexural properties of FREC‐X observed even after immersing in water for >200 h. Such properties of FREC‐X seen as a fascinating alternative to synthetic fibers and petroleum‐based epoxy and are promising material for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights the exploitation of fibers from a promising plant, commonly called Diss, in polymer matrix reinforcement. In this context, various untreated and treated (with acetic acid, silane, NaOH, thermal) Diss fibers were used to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix, polypropylene (PP). The effect of fiber treatments was evaluated at a ratio of 10% (by mass) of fiber, using mechanical, microstructural and physical characterization. A fiber content optimization study was carried out after choosing the fiber treatment by varying the fiber content from 10% to 40%. The microstructure observations showed a multi-layer structure for the biocomposites studied. The particular morphology of Diss fibers, with the presence of thorns, seems to improve the mechanical adhesion between the two phases. For 10% fiber content composites, the incorporation of the different fibers in the PP matrix led to improvements in most mechanical properties. The biocomposite reinforced with NaOH treated fibers (NPP-10%) showed the best mechanical performance with an improvement of 30%, 22% and 9% in tensile modulus, bending modulus and bending stress, respectively. For the fiber content variation, the NPP was retained, and an enhancement in the tensile modulus was found when the fiber content was below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study details the composite fabrication, characterization, and full recyclability of the biobased polymer resins with flax fiber as the reinforcement. Two different biobased resins are selected by varying the resin hardener combination and curing parameters for the comparison. The optimum parameters for the composite preparation are finalized by evaluating the neat resin's mechanical and glass transition temperature (Tg) values. According to the results obtained, a biobased epoxy resin cured by a cleavable hardener displayed the highest Tg (i.e., 93.5°C) upon a two‐step cure cycle, guaranteeing full recyclability. Subsequently, eco‐composite flat panels are manufactured using the selected formulation reinforced with commercial flax‐based fabric. These panel's flexural strength, modulus, and interlaminar shear strength are measured after each curing step. The recyclability yield of the composite is tested, through a specific chemical process, demonstrating the possibility of separating and recovering both the constituent fibers and resin from the composite panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fiber-reinforced green composites made from natural plant fibers are an increasingly popular sustainable alternative to conventional high-performance composite materials. Given the variety of natural fibers themselves, and the even larger variety of possible composites with specific fiber dosage, fiber orientation distribution, fiber length distribution, and fiber–matrix bond characteristics, micromechanics-based modeling is essential for characterizing the macroscopic response of these composites. Herein, an analytical multiscale micromechanics model for elastic homogenization is developed, capable of capturing the variety. The model features (i) a nanoscopic representation of the natural fibers to predict the fiber stiffness from the universal stiffness of the fiber constituents, mainly cellulose, (ii) a spring-interface model to quantify the compliance of the fiber–matrix bond, and (iii) the ability to model any (and any combination of) orientation distribution and aspect ratio distribution. Validation is performed by comparing the predicted stiffness to experimental results for as many as 73 composites available in the literature. Extensive sensitivity analyses quantify the composite stiffening upon increasing fiber volume fraction, fiber alignment, fiber length, and fiber–matrix interface stiffness, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paunch is a fibrous solid residue consisting of partially digested feed from the stomachs of processed cattle. It is the largest untapped solid waste stream from animals at meat processing plants, and potentially a valuable source of fibres for the production of sustainable and potentially higher-value natural biocomposite materials. Paunch was obtained from the waste effluent of a red meat processing plant, and the fibre characteristics of the as-obtained material were studied and benchmarked against wood flour and ground buffel grass, with a view to evaluating the potential of paunch as a fibre for polymer composites. The ground paunch possessed a rough fibrous surface and fibre-like characteristics that were comparable to both wood flour and ground buffel grass, demonstrating their potential for use in composites. Without any pre-treatment or compatibilisation, composites of a representative biopolymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and ground paunch were successfully produced for the first time via extrusion, with up to 50 wt% paunch content. Mechanical property analysis showed that, at 30 wt% content, PHBV/ground paunch composites yielded mechanical properties that were comparable to those of composites with ground buffel grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing restrictions on the exploitation and trade of current stringed musical instruments fingerboard materials such as ebony and rosewood, for economical and ethical reasons, instrument makers are looking for alternative materials. The present work describes the development of a homogeneous 60% bio-based flax fibre composite material with physical properties similar to commonly used fingerboard woods. As a proof of concept, prototype guitar neck was built using the material, demonstrating its compatibility with existing guitar manufacturing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural plant fibers and biopolymers are a very important alternative to replace the inorganic fibers most used in the mechanical reinforcement of composite materials (carbon, glass, ...) and synthetic polymers (Epoxy, PEEK, ...), and at the same time they have a very low environmental impact and a very reasonable price. In this article, we have studied, by a numerical simulation based on genetic approach, the fiber-matrix interface damage of composite materials made up from the PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) matrix and the carbon, glass, jute, and hemp reinforcements with the same volume fraction equal to 30% for each fiber chosen. Our results showed that the damage at the fiber-matrix interface of the biocomposite hemp/PHA is the lowest compared with the other biocomposite materials glass/PHA, jute/PHA, and carbon/PHA. This finding is similar to that found by Antoine Le Duigou et al. and Bodros et al., where they have shown experimentally that the natural reinforcements greatly improve the properties of composite materials and also they have a very low environmental impact. To our knowledge, no published research reports on the study of fiber-matrix interface damage of biocomposite materials based on PHAs and carbon, glass, jute, and hemp fibers for potential textile applications, packaging, and other interesting areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important reason why natural fibers are not sufficiently involved in applications is the large scattering of their properties. In addition, it is very difficult to find one kind of natural fiber which has perfect mechanical properties like synthetic fibers. Here, we aimed to find solutions by developing a hybrid composite according to the expectations in the field of application. With this method, desired mechanical properties can be designed, and the weak properties can be improved. To be able to examine this method, we used two different fibers which have different mechanical characteristics. The mechanical properties were measured with three-point bending and impact resistance tests. According to the results, the flexural strength of the jute-reinforced composites (JC) has been improved by 44–71% using luffa fiber hybridization method. On the other hand, it has been observed that the impact resistance of the same specimens of JC has been improved by 51–83%. These results revealed that it is possible to improve the mechanical properties of the composites with hybridization. In conclusion, our study shows that bio-composites can be designed according to the requirement of the application. Hence, the application areas of bio-composites can be widened with increased usage rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of damage due to impact in an isotropic structure like metal, its alloys, etc. is an easy task but in the case of fibre reinforced polymer matrix composite structures, it becomes one of the critical factors which cannot be tolerated to use this structure extensively. Metals are usually ductile in nature as they can absorb more energy but in case of composite it is different; impact in composite reduces the structural strength. Most of the composite are brittle in nature. Composite can absorb energy in elastic deformation but not via plastic deformation. So it becomes important to consider the impact loading and influence of parameters to improve the damage resistance of composite structures in many applications like automobiles, aerospace, defense, etc. This paper presents the pivotal reviews of the previously published literature regarding the influence of parameters, damage mechanisms, enhancement of damage resistance of various composites. Firstly this paper briefly reviews the approach of analysis and the influence of stacking sequence on failure of the composite. Following this, the compendium review of other parameters for improvement of low velocity impact resistance specifically different constituents materials, geometrical factors, self-healing, bio-composites, off-centre loading and angle impact that influences the structural behaviour of different composites under the impact loading is briefly discussed. This review further discusses the different factors to be considered to enhance the impact damage resistance of fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites and concludes with future work discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, ecological concerns resulted in an interest in using natural fibers such as flax and hemp as a reinforcement in composite materials. However, the inherent variability of their mechanical and physical properties complicates predicting the mechanical performance of their preforms and hence composites. This research introduces a novel approach in modeling natural fiber composites. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first model that considers the variability of natural fibers' properties used in 3D orthogonal woven composites. Measured properties of fibers, yarns and resin in addition to geometrical parameters were used as inputs while the entire Load-Elongation curve of the composite was the output of the model. This model is generalized for any weave design and can be applied for hybrid structures. The model was verified experimentally using preforms from flax and hemp fibers. The model verification showed that there is a better agreement between the predicted and experimental results when using the properties of yarns as input rather than fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, polylactide-based (PLA) composites modified with natural particles (wood, bamboo, and cork) and with different levels of infilling (100%, 80%, and 60%) obtained by fused deposition modeling were tested. The effect of fiber type, infill level and crystallization rate on the mechanical properties were investigated by using tensile, flexural, and impact tests. The materials were subjected to mechanical tests carried out at 23 and 80 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry were employed to analyze crystallization behavior of composite. Furthermore, hydrothermal degradation was performed, and its effect on the properties was analyzed. The addition of natural fillers and different levels of infilling result in a similar level of reduction in the properties. However, the addition of natural fillers resulted in a slightly lower drop than the lowered infilling rate − 40% and 50% for tensile strength, respectively. Moreover, it was found that, composites made of PLA are more sensitive to high temperatures than to water. The decrease in Young's modulus of PLA at 80 °C was 90%, while after 28 days of hydrodegradation ~ 9%. The addition of fibers reduced this decrease at elevated temperatures. Importantly, in the case of a brittle material such as PLA, the impact strength has been improved by 50% for composites with cork particles and other lignocellulosic composites remained at the same level as for resin. Generally, the thermal treatment of composites increased the degree of crystallinity of the materials, as reflected in the higher results of mechanical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers such as jute, cotton, and bamboo composites are becoming alternative materials to synthetic fiber composites, as their use raises awareness of environmental protection. Among natural fibers, jute and cotton fibers were used in this research to fabricate six-layered composites reinforced by spent tea leaves. Varying amounts (0, 5, 10, and 15 g) of spent tea leaf powder were incorporated as reinforcement with resin to improve and observe properties and determine usability. The prepared composites were investigated comparatively in terms of mechanical, microstructural, morphological, and thermal properties. As regards mechanical characterization, tensile, compression, and bending properties were tested in this research to compare the obtained data with the data available in the literature to show its practical application. The results indicated that significant improvements in mechanical properties were obtained from the composites up to a certain proportion of reinforcement. The addition of 10 g reinforcement of spent tea leaves improved tensile strength by 33.46% and compressive strength by 38.86%. In terms of microstructural, morphological, and thermal characterization, in-depth SEM, EDS, XRD, UV, FTIR, TGA, and DSC analyses were performed. The results revealed that advanced microstructural, morphological, and thermal properties were improved with a certain proportion of spent tea leaf reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study focuses on composites, namely natural composites. • This natural composite comprises 40 to 50 wt% of rice straw fiber, neem saw dust fiber and hybrid composites. • A review of several RSNWP hybridization and chemical treatment techniques. • Morphology and mechanical properties of several materials tests were discussed. • Emerging applications of RSNWPs are also examined while keeping environmental sustainability in mind. Recent years have seen an increase in the use of natural fibers. Rice straw/natural fiber hybrid composites can recycle agricultural waste easily and eliminate fine silica ash pollution. Composite specimens are created by hand lay-up as per ASTM standards. Unsaturated polyester resins and rice straws are studied using scanning electron microscopy. Hybrid composites reinforced with rice straw and neem powder perform better. The optimal fiber content for impact and flexural strength is 50 % by volume fraction. RSNWP6 fibers with hybrid properties have more significant impact strength, hardness, and flexural strength than other fibers at 516.86 J/m, 45 BIU, and 80.03 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study is aimed to develop a green packaging material out of betel nut fiber waste that holds up to the values of commercial food packaging. Biocomposites of betel nut fiber were prepared with varying fiber concentrations of 9, 10 and 12% and subjected to utility-based mechanical, physical, morphological and storability tests using chilies for storage. The composite with 10% fiber content exhibited superior strength features with tensile strength, compressive strength, elastic modulus, nanohardness and minimum creep rate values of 1.59 MPa, 426.23 MPa, 2.032 GPa, 99.729 MPa and 37.02, respectively. It possessed a characteristic elasto-plastic and stress-strain behavior, favorable for storage and transportation. Along with the superior mechanical properties, the selected composite manifested a lower water vapor permeability of 4.635 × 10−9 g/msPa and a minimal sorption capacity of 51.01% in comparison with cardboard sheets (currently used packaging material for chilies). Chilies stored in developed betel nut fiber composite exhibited a significantly higher value of firmness and reduced value of degradation factors as compared to that in cardboard boxes. Hence, it can be concluded that bearing all the superior properties, the developed composite is more functional than the cardboard cartons for storage and transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties of Roselle fiber reinforced vinyl ester biocomposite were studied based on the fiber content and length in the present communication. Usually, natural fiber reinforced polymer composites depend on some aspects such as fiber content, fiber length and orientation, the fiber-matrix adhesion. Composite plates were prepared by a simple hand lay-up technique for two different fiber lengths (3 and 13 mm) and five different fiber content (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt%). Composite specimens were tested according to ASTM and ISO standards and their results were recorded. Experimental results showed that mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and impact, increases with increase of fiber content up to 40 wt% after which it is decreases at both the fiber length. However, modulus values were increased linearly with fiber content of 10 to 50 wt%. Composites with the fiber length of 13 mm show the high level of mechanical properties compared to composites with the fiber length of 3 mm at all combinations of fiber contents. It is observed that the optimal fiber content is 40 wt%, which can be used to obtain the maximum property level in the Roselle fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this era of green and sustainable manufacturing, natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFPC) have been widely accepted as the potential alternatives for polymer matrix composites (PMC) or any other non-biodegradable composites. Despite the increasing need to replace plastic bottles, bags, disposable plastic plates and trays, seedling pots used in our day to day life, not many studies have been made in this direction. The current work aims at developing a hundred percent biodegradable composite by reinforcing waste Kibisu silk fibre into wheat gluten as a possible replacement of plastic disposables. The developed composites are made up of different mass fractions of Kibisu silk fibre reinforced into plasticised wheat gluten. The prepared composites have been characterised to obtain the best combination. The developed composites were found to have adequate tensile property, mass degradation at a considerably high temperature and most importantly, the outstanding rate of biodegradation under normal atmospheric conditions. The soil quality test before and after degradation also showed no significant changes in the quality of the soil. FTIR studies revealed improved interaction between wheat gluten, glycerol and Kibisu fibres upon addition of natural lemon extract as crosslinker. Overall results indicate that the developed biocomposites have the potential to substitute harmful plastic disposables like plastic seedling pots and plates, disposable hospital tray, dustbin, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High water absorption capacity and low biodegradation of fiber reinforced composites are the major drawbacks, which limit their applications in different sectors. Development of composites with complete biodegradability is challenging as biodegradability may be incomplete by lowering of its water adsorption capacity. In this work, a series of thermoplastic starch (TPS) reinforced jute (10–40 wt%) composites were developed by compression molding and measured by their mechanical properties. The composite with 30% jute showed the maximum tensile strength (27.3 MPa). Contact angle, and water absorption measurements exposed that composites are moderately hydrophobic in nature. Both soil burial and fungal degradation testing showed biodegradability of composites. Characterizations of optimized composite before and after biodegradation test, were carried out by FTIR, SEM and optical microscope. The present study showed promise on feasible applications of jute-starch composites in packaging, automobile sector, cutlery, indoor furnishing, etc. as a substitute of plastic-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the evaluation of mechanical properties of a biopolymer composite, where a low temperature plasma, atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) physical treatment was used to improve adhesion at the interface between polymer and natural fibers. The polymer composite matrix was PLA polymer from NatureWorks LLC. The reinforcing filler were natural coconut fibers, which were in three weight percentage in the composite system. Tests of evaluation of mechanical properties, tensile and bending test and impact strength test and differential scanning calorimetry were performed on prepared samples. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the effect of plasma treatment on the surface of natural fibers as well as adhesion at the interface between fibers and matrix. Experimental results of mechanical properties confirmed that the use of plasma surface treatment of natural coconut fibers using DBD technology influences the final properties of biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of high-performance, environmentally friendly polylactide (PLA) foam to replace petroleum-based polymer foam is crucial for promoting the sustainable and green development. Herein, flexible poly (butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) is introduced into the PLA/wood fiber composite, and the PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is prepared by supercritical CO 2 batch foaming technology. The results show that the introduction of PBAT can reduce the storage modulus and Tanδ value of PLA/wood fiber composite, accelerate the rate of crystallization of composite, expand the temperature range for the crystallization of composite, improve the crystallinity of composite, leading to the improved foamability of composite. Compared with PLA/wood fiber composite foam, the volume swelling ratio of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is increased to 10 times when the loadings of PBAT is 15 wt%. What's more, the apparent density of the composite foam is decreased to 0.13 g/cm3, the cell distribution is more uniform, and the ratio of closed cell is significantly improved. More importantly, when the content of PBAT is 15 wt%, the composite foam shows a superior compressive strength (1.66 MPa), which is 7.97 times higher than that of neat PLA foam. The excellent foamability of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite is attributed to the improved crystallization kinetics and melt elasticity due to the introduction of flexible PBAT. The as-prepared high-performance PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam will be expected to have broad prospects in green and sustainable packaging, sound absorption, and thermal insulation materials. • PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is prepared by supercritical CO 2 batch foaming technology. • The introduction of PBAT could increase the melt strength of PLA and improve its crystallization rate. • The composite foam shows a high ratio of closed-cell, high expansion ratio, and a high compressive strength. • Compared with the pure PLA foam, the strength of PLA/PBAT/wood fiber composite foam is increased by 797 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing popularity of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) can be attributed to its favorable attributes, such as excellent compostability and robust mechanical properties. Two notable limitations of PLA are its high brittleness and slow biodegradation rate. Both of blending and copolymerization strategies work well to improve PLA's toughness while sacrificing the good tensile strength and modulus properties of PLA. One of the most effective and economical approaches to address this challenge is to incorporate natural reinforcing agents into the toughened PLA system, thereby simultaneously promoting the biodegradation rate of PLA. Nevertheless, the enhancement of tensile strength and modulus is accompanied by a notable decrease in elongation. Therefore, this review provides comprehensive information on the literature works related to the tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break and impact strength of the toughened PLA and its natural fiber reinforced composites. The impact of natural reinforcing agent on the tensile fracture mechanism as well as the synergistic effect on strengthening and toughening performance will be discussed. This review also focuses on the factors boosting the biodegradability of toughened PLA blend by using natural reinforcing fiber. Review presents potential future insights into the development of biodegradable and balanced strengthened-toughened PLA based advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented the mechanical and fatigue behavior of woven kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy composites with the composition of 16.67% kenaf and 83.33% of epoxy (1:5 weight ratio) alongside the addition of 1% of silica aerogel into the composite. There are a number of studies concentrating on natural fibers nowadays, yet their low mechanical properties when compared to other synthetic fibers had urged the addition of filler into the composite to increase the mechanical strength. Hand layup technique was used to prepare Kenaf/Epoxy (KE) and Kenaf/Epoxy/Silica Aerogel (KES) composite alongside pure epoxy (E), 100% epoxy composite. All fatigue tests were conducted at constant stress amplitude, frequency of 5 Hz, stress ratio of 0.5 and the maximum stress applied was from 90 % to 70 % of ultimate tensile strength with decrement of 5%. The results showed that the tensile properties improved as silica aerogel is added into the composite. These results showed that the tensile strength is increased by 27.3% while stiffness decreased by 78.2% when silica aerogel is added into the composite as filler. The reduction of the stiffness is associated with the brittle nature of the filler. Similar to tensile properties, the addition of silica aerogel also had resulted better fatigue life. KES composite showed more than 100% increment in number of cycles endured when compared to KE composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-growing environmental concern arising from the unrestricted exploitation of fossil sources for the massive production of non-biodegradable materials encourages research on alternative renewable resources. We herein pave the route for the production of biodegradable biocomposites made up of carrot minimal processing waste (CMPW) by optimizing its combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and high-pressure microfluidized cellulose fibers, which played ligand and mechanical reinforcement roles, respectively. Ternary mixture designs established mathematical models aimed at structure-composition-property correlations, allowing their mechanical performances to be innovatively predicted without the need for further experiments. The optimized formulation comprised 33 wt.% CPMW and led to biodegradable biocomposites featuring ca. 30 MPa of tensile strength, ca. 3% elongation at break, and ca. 2 GPa of Young’s modulus, properties which are suitable for food packaging applications. Finally, the film-forming protocol was successfully scaled-up through a continuous casting approach, allowing the production of 1.56 m 2 of biodegradable biocomposite in each hour. While scaling up did not affect film’s barrier to moisture, it did impair its mechanical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel inverse biological crossed-lamellar structure was synthesized in CFRP. • This is the first non-biological prototype crossed-lamellar structure in the literature. • The tailored inverse-biologic crossed-lamellar structure is designed to achieve higher load-carrying capacity and stiffness. The remarkable toughness of Strombus gigas shell arises from its microstructure. In this study, inspired by the biologic crossed-lamellar microstructure of Strombus gigas shell, we prepared a novel carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite with inverse-biologic crossed-lamellar structure by replacing the inner and outer layers with the "tough" middle structure. The influences of the alternating arrangement of crossed-lamellar three-layer structure on the mechanical responses, including toughening mechanisms and biological mechanism, were studied. Experimental and numerical results indicated that as burrowing mollusks, Strombus gigas shells require a balance of certain load-carrying capacity and stronger protection function. Meanwhile, the tailored inverse-biologic structure achieved higher load-bearing capacity and stiffness. Additionally, the Bouligand-ply design strategy was proposed as an alternative to the traditional angle-ply design for the crossed-lamellar structure. By changing the laying-up form and pitch angle of the middle layer, a significant improvement in both load-bearing and energy dissipation capacity of the structures was achieved. The paper provides valuable insights for the design of high-performance biomimetic crossed-lamellar structures and holds great potential for the customization of fiber-reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of three local lignocellulosic wastes i.e. almond shell (AS), rice husk (RH) and seagrass (SG) as fillers in PHB/Fiber composites applications has been studied. PHB/Fiber composites with 10 phr and 20 phr fiber content were prepared by melt blending. The influence of the fiber type (size, morphology and origin) and content on the morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of the as obtained composites has been assessed. To evaluate the potential use in food packaging applications, the barrier performance to water, thermoforming ability and disintegration in controlled composting conditions of the composites were also studied. All the fibers have demonstrated to be apt for their use as fillers in PHB/Fiber composites, showing a reinforcing effect without affecting the crystallinity and the disintegration rate of PHB. The thermal stability and the water barrier performance of the composites were reduced by the presence of the fibers. Nevertheless, the addition of AS resulted in the best balance of properties, in terms of permeability and mechanical properties, finding an enhancement of the thermoforming ability of PHB when 10 phr of AS was added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the problematic textile fiber waste as potential precursor material to produce multilayer cotton fiber biocomposite. The properties of the products were better than the current dry bearing type particleboards and ordinary dry medium-density fiberboard in terms of the static bending strength (67.86 MPa), internal bonding strength (1.52 MPa) and water expansion rate (9.57%). The three-layer, four-layer and five-layer waste cotton fiber composite (WCFC) were tried in the experiment, the mechanical properties of the three-layer WCFC are insufficient, the five-layer WCFC is too thick and the four-layer WCFC had the best comprehensive performance. The cross-section morphology of the four-layer WCFC shows a dense structure with a high number of adhesives attached to the fiber. The hardness and stiffness of the four-layer cotton fiber composite enhanced by the high crystallinity of cellulose content, and several chemical bondings were presence in the composites. Minimum mass loss (30%) and thermal weight loss rate (0.70%/°C) was found for the four-layer WCFC. Overall, our findings suggested that the use of waste cotton fiber (WCF) to prepare biocomposite with desirable physical and chemical properties is feasible, and which can potentially be used as building material, furniture and automotive applications. • We study the potential use of waste cotton fiber in different-layer composites. • We used water, hot pressing and epoxy adhesives to fabricate the novel composite. • Cell wall collapses and chemical bonds enhanced the mechanical bonding. • It showed better mechanical properties compared to existing medium density boards. • Four-layer waste cotton fiber composite are the best preparation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable fiber-reinforced biocomposites from steam-exploded coconut fibers and polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) plastic were developed in this study. Biocomposite filaments and samples were produced using a commercial-scale screw extruder and a 3D printer, respectively. In-depth mechanical and thermal analyses were also performed. The results showed that the tensile strengths of PLA mixed with 3% coconut fiber (PLA97/F3) and 6% coconut fiber (PLA94/F6) decreased by approximately 22% and 23%, respectively, compared to the 64% reduction of that of the original PLA after four-week storage. The bending modulus of the PLA/fiber composite was better than that of the original PLA (21–29% higher), whereas a 5–8% improvement was observed for the PLA/PBS/fiber composites. The impact strengths of PLA97/F3 and PLA77/PBS20/F3 were approximately 8.5% and 7.4% higher than those of the original PLA and PLA/PBS, respectively. During the degradation test, both PLA97/F3 and PLA77/PBS20/F3 exhibited higher tensile strengths than the original materials. Finally, this research presents encouraging results for the production of biodegradable fiber-reinforced biocomposites that are applicable to 3D printing platforms. The final products can be used as replacement or aftermarket components of automobiles. • PLA, PBS, and steam-exploded coconut fiber were used for filament production. • The 3D-printed biocomposites were subjected to mechanical and thermal tests. • Coconut fiber is effective as a natural fiber reinforcement material. • The products have higher tensile strengths than original materials during degradation test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation conducted on the development of banana fiber-reinforced paper pulp biocomposites. The investigations focus on parameters, such as fiber length, fiber volume fraction, and composite thickness, those affect the properties of the biocomposites. Regression models, using Box and Behnken experimental design, have been developed to predict acoustic performance of the biocomposite along with the analysis of these parameters. The correlation coefficient between observed and predicted values was found to be 0.95. The maximum Noise Reduction Coefficient is observed (through experimental) in the bulk density of 154 kg/m3 at frequency ranges between 250 Hz and 4000 Hz with the average value of 0.55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is dedicated to polyester urethane (PEU)-based biocomposites, with special focus placed on techniques for compatibilisation to heighten interfacial adhesion between the PEU matrix and flax fibres. Tests were conducted on the effects of modification so as to increase interfacial adhesion between the flax fibres and the polyester matrix. These tests involved a commercial silane-based compatibilising additive, two experimentally synthesised agents, oleic acid (OA) and di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP). Furthermore, the flax fibres underwent acid or alkali treatment. The biocomposites were characterised by gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties were investigated through tensile testing. Biocomposites with a commercial silane-based additive and synthesised agent, based on maleic-anhydride, were assessed as the best solution. Nevertheless, all modifications, excluding alkali treatment of fibres, significantly increased the performance of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bamboo fiber was considered a good candidate for the reinforcement of green composites. The applications of bamboo fibers as reinforcements in fabric or structural forms to constitute composites have been widely investigated. This study conducted the process from the bamboo strips to the fibers that were compounded with the polylactide to form the composite pellets for the following injection molding process. Alkali treatment of bamboo fiber at 100℃ for 12 h could properly delignify the bamboo fiber strips, resulting in required bamboo fibers. After compounded with polylactide in a banbury mixer to form composite pellets, the injection molding process was used to make composites with improved mechanical properties, including the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength. The reinforced effect of the bamboo fiber on polylactide was quite apparent in our experiments. A simple rule of mixture was used to approximate the tensile strength and modulus of the bamboo fiber/polylactide composite. The fire safety improvement of the biocomposite was also investigated by adding fire retardant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focusses on the effect of thermal ageing and mechanical properties of empty fruit bunch filled polyvinyl alcohol composites. A composite plate with various volume fractions from 0·5 to 3 wt-% of empty fruit bunch was fabricated. The composites were created by a casting evaporation technique. Generally, there appears to be intimate contact between empty fruit bunch fibre and polyvinyl alcohol. In composites with higher fibre content, there is a greater tendency for filler interaction to take place. The results showed that the addition of 1 wt-% of empty fruit bunch fibre increased the tensile strength and modulus of the polyvinyl alcohol/empty fruit bunch fibre composite. There was a further increase in the mechanical properties of all the samples after thermal ageing at 50°C for 6 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, novel acrylated epoxidized hemp oil bioresin was used in the manufacturing of jute fibre reinforced biocomposites. The 100% biocomposite laminates were characterised in terms of mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and interlaminar shear), thermo-mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, storage modulus and crosslink density) and water absorption properties (saturation moisture level and diffusion coefficient). Comparisons with the equivalent synthetic vinylester resin based jute fibre reinforced biocomposite panels were performed. Scanning electron microscopic analysis confirmed panel samples containing acrylated epoxidized hemp oil to display improved fibre–matrix interfacial adhesion compared with the vinylester resin based samples. Furthermore in terms of mechanical properties acrylated epoxidized hemp oil based biocomposites compared favourably with those manufactured from vinylester resin synthetic resin. Dynamic mechanical analysis found acrylated epoxidized hemp oil based biocomposites to have lower glass transition temperature, storage modulus and crosslink density than vinylester resin based samples. Increasing acrylated epoxidized hemp oil content resulted in a marginal increase in saturation moisture content and diffusion coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biocomposites can supplement and eventually replace petroleum-based composite materials in several applications. Several critical issues related to bio-fiber surface treatments is to make it a more suitable matrix for composite application and promising techniques need to be solved to design biocomposite of interest. The main motivation for developing biocomposites has been and still is to create a new generation of fiber reinforced plastics material competitive with glass fiber reinforced ones which are environmentally compatible in terms of products, use and renewal. There is an immense opportunity in developing new biobased products, but the real challenge is to design suitable bio-based products through innovation ideas. Green materials are the wave of the future. Bio-nanocomposites have very strong future prospects, though the present low level of production, some deficiency in technology and high cost restrict them from a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Novel flax/tannin composites were reinforced with different flax fibre fabric configurations. [•] The glass transition temperature determined by DMA was around 60°C. [•] Unidirectionally (0°) arranged fabric reinforced composite laminate (8 plies) shows the highest tensile strength up to 140MPa. [•] The tensile failure mechanism explains the wettability and adhesion between tannin resins and flax fibres. [•] The [0°, +45°, 90°, −45°]2 composite displays the best impact resistance during low velocity impact tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel epoxidized hemp oil-based biocomposites containing jute fibre reinforcement were produced at the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) owing to the need to develop new types of biobased materials. Mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and interlaminar shear), thermo-mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, storage modulus and crosslink density) and moisture-absorption properties (saturation moisture level and diffusion coefficient) were investigated and compared with samples containing commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil and a synthetic bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-based epoxy control, R246TX cured with a blend of triethylenetetramine and isophorone diamine. Scanning electron microscopy was also performed to investigate the fibre–matrix interface. Epoxidized hemp oil-based samples were found to have marginally superior mechanical, dynamic mechanical and similar water-absorption properties in comparison to samples made with epoxidized soybean oil bioresin; however, both sample types were limited to bioresin concentrations below 30%. Synthetic epoxy-based samples exhibited the highest mechanical, dynamic mechanical and lowest water-absorption properties of all investigated samples. This study has also determined that epoxidized hemp oil-based bioresins when applied to jute fibre-reinforced biocomposites can compete with commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil in biocomposite applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the main coproduct in the dry mill corn ethanol industry, is finding its way toward a reinforcing filler in polymeric composite applications. In such a journey, thermal stability of DDGS is a critical factor affecting both temperature window of DDGS melt-compounding with polymers and the properties of the final biocomposite material. In this study, DDGS thermal stability was enhanced by washing with water and then used to fabricate biocomposites with Poly(1, 4-butanediol succinate) (PBS). The thermal degradation of DDGS, before and after washing, was studied with thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analyses, showing up to 50 °C improvement in degradation onset temperature of DDGS after washing. Also, the degradation activation energies for water-washed DDGS were smaller than the respective values for as-received DDGS. Compositional analysis and infrared spectroscopy showed that the water-washed DDGS was higher in protein and fiber content compared to as-received DDGS. As a result of improved thermal stability of DDGS after water-washing, the DDGS burning during melt processing was highly prevented and the biocomposites processed at 160 °C and 190 °C showed constant tensile properties. On the other hand, for as-received DDGS biocomposites the tensile properties decreased as the processing temperature increased. Moreover, the increased fiber content of DDGS after water-washing resulted in biocomposites with higher tensile strength and modulus compared to as-received DDGS biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, natural fiber reinforced biocomposites have received widespread attention due to their application in automotive, construction, industrial, and other commercial markets. Their lightweight characteristics have direct positive impact on the fuel economy in automotive applications. The mechanical behavior of natural fiber based composites are affected by the different environmental conditions. Observing the application spectrum, there is an imminent need to investigate the effect of different operating environments on mechanical behavior of biocomposites. The objective of the present research endeavor is to characterize the tensile behavior of the nettle fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites when exposed to river water, diesel oil, freezing conditions, sunlight (UV), and soil for different exposure times (64–512 h). The experimental results show that the tensile strength of the developed biocomposite is affected by varying magnitudes when subjected to selected conditions for different exposure times. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Empty fruit bunch oil palm (EFBOP) fibres were surface modified by four different methods, propionylation, vinyltrimethoxy silanization, PPgMA dissolution modification, and PPgMA blending, and integrated into a polypropylene (PP) matrix. The designed biocomposites were subjected to an absorption process at different temperatures. Their water uptake behaviour was compared with the unmodified fibre biocomposites. An increased fibre content and temperature resulted in increased water uptake for all of the biocomposites. The biocomposites containing modified fibres showed a reduction in water uptake, rate of diffusion, sorption, and permeation in comparison with unmodified fibre composites. Comparing the 20 wt% fibre composites at ambient temperature, the performance in water absorption followed the sequence silanization < propionylation < PPgMA dissolution modification < PPgMA blending < no modification. Furthermore, the lowest water absorption was obtained from the silanized fibre/PP composite with 40% fibre content at ambient temperature. Dissolution or blending of PPgMA gave similar water uptake results. The reduction of diffusion, sorption, and permeation confirmed that the modification of fibres was potentially effective at resisting water penetration into the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocomposite scaffolds consist of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and wool keratin were obtained by an electrospinning process. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/wool keratin fibers had relatively rougher surfaces and smaller diameters. Thermogravimetric analysis showed higher thermal stabilities of the developed biocomposites compared to neat poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). Mechanical tests showed that when the wool keratin content increased from 0% to 0.5% w/v, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/0.5% wool keratin scaffolds increased with maxima of 6.59 MPa and 104.44%, respectively, which was an increase of 8.2% and 570% over the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold. The biological response of bone mesenchymal stem cells to the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/1.5% wool keratin biocomposites was superior when compared to pure poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold in terms of improved cell attachment and higher proliferation. These observations suggest that the addition of wool keratin to a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrix can improve several properties of the electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) fibers, and the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/wool keratin biocomposites could make excellent materials for tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]