Search

The trend of using natural fiber composites is increasing rapidly due to the growing environmental concerns and increased awareness on sustainability. However, due to the lower strength of natural fibers (95-1600MPa) compared to synthetic fibers (2000-4000 MPa), high moisture absorption rate, variation in the fiber properties, and lower processing temperature range limit its applications. This study advances the concept of overmolding of bamboo fiber-polypropylene (BF-PP) composites with unidirectional and 0/90 textile grade carbon fiber (TCF) tape. BF-PP composites were processed using extrusion compression molding (ECM) technique. TCF tape was produced on a thermoplastic polymer impregnation line. Mechanical and morphological properties of overmolded hybrid composites were studied. These studies attempted to evaluate the interface between the BF-PP and the TCF thermoplastic tape. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of BF-PP composites increased by ~152% and ~164% respectively by overmolding BF-PP with unidirectional TCF tape; and by ~53% and ~54% respectively on overmolding 0/90 TCF thermoplastic tape. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the TCF tape overmolded BF-PP composites exhibited good interfacial bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of composite materials has seen many new innovations for a large variety of applications. The area of reinforcement in composites is also rapidly evolving with many new discoveries, including the use of hybrid fibers, sustainable materials, and nanocellulose. In this review, studies on hybrid fiber reinforcement, the use of nanocellulose, the use of nanocellulose in hybrid forms, the use of nanocellulose with other nanomaterials, the applications of these materials, and finally, the challenges and opportunities (including safety issues) of their use are thoroughly discussed. This review will point out new prospects for the composite materials world, enabling the use of nano- and micron-sized materials together and creating value-added products at the industrial scale. Furthermore, the use of hybrid structures consisting of two different nano-materials creates many novel solutions for applications in electronics and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recycling of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites to new composites. • Impact of recycling/reprocessing on material properties of natural fiber composites. • Thermomechanical property, hygroscopicity, viscoelasticity, degradation, durability. • Discussing mechanism behind property changes: polymer degradation or fiber breakage. • Mitigating material property degradation with functional additive or virgin plastic. Natural fibers have been widely used for reinforcing polymers attributed to their sustainable nature, excellent stiffness to weight ratio, biodegradability, and low cost compared with synthetic fibers like carbon or glass fibers. Thermoplastic composites offer an advantage of recyclability after their service life, but challenges and opportunities remain in the recycling of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs). This article summarized the effects of reprocessing/recycling on the material properties of NFRPCs. The material properties considered include mechanical performance, thermal properties, hygroscopic behavior, viscoelasticity, degradation, and durability. NFRPCs can generally be recycled approximately 4–6 times until their thermomechanical properties change. After recycling 7 times, the tensile strength of NFRPCs can decrease by 17%, and the tensile modulus can decrease by 28%. The mitigation approaches to overcome degradation of material properties of NFRPCs such as adding functional additives and virgin plastics are also discussed. The main challenges in these approaches such as degradation and incompatibility are discussed, and an effort is made to provide a rationale for reprocessing/recyclability assessment. Future applications of NFRPCs such as additive manufacturing and automotive part use are discussed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demands for reducing energy consumption and environmental impacts are the major driving factors for the development of natural fiber–reinforced composites (NFRCs) in many sectors. Compared with synthesized fiber, natural fiber provides several advantages in terms of biodegradability, light weight, low price, life-cycle superiority, and satisfactory mechanical properties. However, the inherent features of plant-based natural fibers have presented challenges to the development and application of NFRCs, such as variable fiber quality, limited mechanical properties, water absorption, low thermal stability, incompatibility with hydrophobic matrices, and propensity to agglomeration. Substantial research has recently been conducted to address these challenges for improved performance of NFRCs and their applications. This article reviews the recent advancements of plant-based NFRCs, focusing on strategies and breakthroughs in enhancing the NFRCs' performance, including fiber modification, fiber hybridization, lignocellulosic fillers incorporation, conventional processing techniques, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and new fiber source exploration. The sustainability of plant-based NFRCs using life-cycle assessment and the burgeoning applications of NFRCs with emphasis on the automotive industry are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]