This paper documents the thermal and biodegradation behaviour of kenaf/cornhusk fiber reinforced corn starch-based hybrid composites film (CS/K-CH) produced by solution casting method. To develop both components as biodegradable hybrid composite, this research used corn starch as matrix, kenaf fiber and cornhusk fibre as a filler. Changes in physical structure and weight from the soil burial test were measured using Mettler Toledo digital balance ME. Films produced from physically blended corn starch reinforced kenaf biocomposites films (CS/K) biocomposite film had faster biodegradation and lost 96.18% of weight within 10 days compared with corn starch hybrid composites that only lost 83.82% of total weight. It was observed that the control film, CS/K biocomposite film was completely degraded after 10 days, meanwhile it took 12 days for hybrid composite films to be fully degrade. The thermal properties such as TGA and DTG were also measured. Addition of corn husk fiber significantly improve the film's thermal properties. Glass transition temperatures of corn starch hybrid films were significantly lowered when cornhusk compositions were increased from 0.2% wt to 0.8% wt. Importantly, the current work has demonstrated that hybrid films made of corn starch can be a suitable biodegradable material for substitute synthetic plastic.
In recent years, most boat fabrication companies use 100% synthetic fiber-reinforced composite materials, due to their high performance of mechanical properties. In the new trend of research on the fabrication of boat structure using natural fiber hybrid with kevlar/fiberglass-reinforced composite, the result of tensile, bending, and impact strength showed that glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite gave high strength with increasing glass fiber contents. At some point, realizing the cost of synthetic fiber is getting higher, researchers today have started to use natural fibers that are seen as a more cost-effective option. Natural fibers, however, have some disadvantages, such as high moisture absorption, due to repelling nature; low wettability; low thermal stability; and quality variation, which lead to the degradation of composite properties. In recent times, hybridization is recommended by most researchers as a solution to natural fiber's weaknesses and to reduce the use of synthetic fibers that are not environmentally friendly. In addition, hybrid composite has its own special advantages, i.e., balanced strength and stiffness, reduced weight and cost, improved fatigue resistance and fracture toughness, and improved impact resistance. The synthetic-nature fiber hybrid composites are used in a variety of applications as a modern material that has attracted most manufacturing industries' attention to shift to using the hybrid composite. Some of the previous studies stated that delamination and manufacturing had influenced the performance of the hybrid composites. In order to expand the use of natural fiber as a successful reinforcement in hybrid composite, the factor that affects the manufacturing defects needs to be investigated. In this review paper, a compilation of the reviews on the delamination and a few common manufacturing defect types illustrating the overview of the impact on the mechanical properties encountered by most of the composite manufacturing industries are presented.
Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber is a natural fiber that possesses many advantages, such as biodegradability, eco-friendly, and renewable nature. The effect of the OPEFB fiber loading reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites on flammability and tensile properties of the polymer biocomposites were investigated. The tests were carried out with four parameters, which were specimen A (constant), specimen B (20% of fiber), specimen C (35% of fiber), and specimen D (50% of fiber). The PET yarn and magnesium hydroxide were used as the reinforcement material and fire retardant agent, respectively. The results were obtained from several tests, which were the horizontal burning test, tensile test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result for the burning test showed that specimen B exhibited better flammability properties, which had the lowest average burning rate (11.47 mm/min). From the tensile strength, specimen A revealed the highest value of 10.79 N/mm2. For the SEM morphological test, increasing defects on the surface ruptured were observed that resulted in decreased tensile properties of the composites. It can be summarized that the flammability and tensile properties of OPEFB fiber reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites were reduced when the fiber volume contents were increased at the optimal loading of 20%, with the values of 11.47 mm/min and 4.29 KPa, respectively.
The interest in using natural fiber reinforced composites is now at its highest. Numerous studies have been conducted due to their positive benefits related to environmental issues. Even though they have limitations for some load requirements, this drawback has been countered through fiber treatment and hybridization. Sandwich structure, on the other hand, is a combination of two or more individual components with different properties, which when joined together can result in better performance. Sandwich structures have been used in a wide range of industrial material applications. They are known to be lightweight and good at absorbing energy, providing superior strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios, and offering opportunities, through design integration, to remove some components from the core element. Today, many industries use composite sandwich structures in a range of components. Through good design of the core structure, one can maximize the strength properties, with a low density. However, the application of natural fiber composites in sandwich structures is still minimal. Therefore, this paper reviewed the possibility of using a natural fiber composite in sandwich structure applications. It addressed the mechanical properties and energy-absorbing characteristics of natural fiber-based sandwich structures tested under various compression loads. The results and potential areas of improvement to fit into a wide range of engineering applications were discussed.
This paper presents the thermal and flammability properties of woven kenaf/polyester-reinforced polylactic acid hybrid laminated composites. The effects of the fiber content and stacking sequences of hybrid composites were examined. The hybrid composites were fabricated using the hot press method. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and flammability properties of woven kenaf/polyester-reinforced polylactic hybrid composites were reported. The thermal results have demonstrated the effect of the hybridization of the composites on the thermal stability and viscoelastic properties of the laminates. The work also measured the burning rate of the hybrid composites during the flammability test. The S7 sample that consisted of all woven kenaf layers in composite recorded the highest char residue of 10%, and the S8 sample displayed the highest decomposition temperature among all samples. However, as for hybrid composites, the S5 sample shows the optimum result with a high char yield and exhibited the lowest burning rate at 29 mm/min. The S5 sample also shows the optimum viscoelastic properties such as storage and loss modulus among hybrid composites.
Kenaf fiber has recently garnered exponential interest as reinforcement in composite materials across diverse industries owing to its superior mechanical attributes, ease of manufacture, and inherent biodegradability. In the discourse of this review, various methods of manufacturing kenaf/Polylactic acid (PLA) composites have been discussed meticulously, as delineated in recently published scientific literatures. This paper delves into the chemical modification of kenaf fiber, examining its consequential impact on tensile strength and thermal stability of the kenaf/PLA composites. Further, this review illuminates the role of innovative 3D printing techniques and fiber orientation in augmenting the mechanical robustness of the kenaf/PLA composites. Simultaneously, recent insightful explorations into the acoustic properties of the kenaf/PLA composites, underscoring their potential as sustainable alternative to conventional materials have been reviewed. Serving as a comprehensive repository of knowledge, this review paper holds immense value for researchers aiming to utilize the capabilities of kenaf fiber reinforced PLA composites.
Material is an inseparable entity for humans to serve different purposes. However, synthetic polymers represent a major category of anthropogenic pollutants with detrimental impacts on natural ecosystems. This escalating environmental issue is characterized by the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic materials, which pose serious threats to the health of our planet's ecosystem. Cellulose is becoming a focal point for many researchers due to its high availability. It has been used to serve various purposes. Recent scientific advancements have unveiled innovative prospects for the utilization of nanocellulose within the area of advanced science. This comprehensive review investigates deeply into the field of nanocellulose, explaining the methodologies employed in separating nanocellulose from cellulose. It also explains upon two intricately examined applications that emphasize the pivotal role of nanocellulose in nanocomposites. The initial instance pertains to the automotive sector, encompassing cutting-edge applications in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, while the second exemplifies the use of nanocellulose in the field of biomedical applications like otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology, and wound dressing. This review aims to provide comprehensive information starting from the definitions, identifying the sources of the nanocellulose and its extraction, and ending with the recent applications in the emerging field such as energy storage and biomedical applications.
Researchers have begun focusing on developing biodegradable materials, such as natural fiber/polymer composites (NFPC), since the growing of environmental concerns related to waste management. One crucial aspect that must be established in the development of these composites is their water-absorption behavior. This paper examines the water absorption (WA) behavior of NFPC, with a specific emphasis on natural fiber/polylactic acid (PLA) composites. It discusses processes and numerous aspects related to this behavior, based on recent published research. This review analyzes the influence of several factors, such as the loading of natural fiber, the combination of different natural fibers, the methods used in manufacturing, and the temperature of the water, on the WA behavior of natural fiber/PLA composites. It also explores how WA affects the properties of these composites. In addition, this review also presented techniques for improving the WA resistance of the composites. This review paper provides researchers with insights into the WA behavior of the composites, aiming to facilitate the development of a versatile and eco-friendly material that may effectively address waste disposal challenges.
Nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites for high-performance uses have been the focus of recent research. In contrast to graphene, which has great conductivity and mechanical strength, nanocellulose possesses special qualities like renewability and biocompatibility but lacks electrical conductivity. Since graphene-nanocellulose has such promising features, efforts to make flexible electronic composites employing them have accelerated. However, the environmental impacts are needed to be addressed prior to the applications of these hybrid composites. This review article explores environmental aspects for nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites because of their sustainability, which is a major step in the right direction. The article also emphasizes how these composites have the potential to transform several industries and open the door to a more environmentally friendly future. This paper explores into the most recent developments in nanocellulose-graphene hybrid composites, highlighting its environmental benefits and adaptability. These composites offer remarkable performance by combining the strength and conductivity of graphene with the mechanical, electrical, and thermal capabilities of nanocellulose.
This work represents a study to investigate the mechanical properties of longitudinal basalt/woven-glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester-resin hybrid composites. The hybridization of basalt and glass fiber enhanced the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. The unsaturated polyester resin (UP), basalt (B) and glass fibers (GF) were fabricated using the hand lay-up method in six formulations (UP, GF, B7.5/G22.5, B15/G15, B22.5/G7.5 and B) to produce the composites, respectively. This study showed that the addition of basalt to glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester resin increased its density, tensile and flexural properties. The tensile strength of the B22.5/G7.5 hybrid composites increased by 213.92 MPa compared to neat UP, which was 8.14 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was used to observe the fracture mode and fiber pullout of the hybrid composites.
Over the last decade, the progressive application of natural fibres in polymer composites has had a major effect in alleviating environmental impacts. Recently, there is a growing interest in the development of green materials in a woven form by utilising natural fibres from lignocellulosic materials for many applications such as structural, non-structural composites, household utilities, automobile parts, aerospace components, flooring, and ballistic materials. Woven materials are one of the most promising materials for substituting or hybridising with synthetic polymeric materials in the production of natural fibre polymer composites (NFPCs). These woven materials are flexible, able to be tailored to the specific needs and have better mechanical properties due to their weaving structures. Seeing that the potential advantages of woven materials in the fabrication of NFPC, this paper presents a detailed review of studies related to woven materials. A variety of factors that influence the properties of the resultant woven NFRC such as yarn characteristics, fabric properties as well as manufacturing parameters were discussed. Past and current research efforts on the development of woven NFPCs from various polymer matrices including polypropylene, polylactic acid, epoxy and polyester and the properties of the resultant composites were also compiled. Last but not least, the applications, challenges, and prospects in the field also were highlighted.
The objective of this research is to optimize the alkaline treatment variables, including sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration, soaking, and drying time, that influence the mechanical behavior of bamboo fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. In this study, a Box-Behnken design (BBD) of the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to design an experiment to investigate the mercerization effect of bamboo fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. The evaluation of predicted tensile strength as a variable parameter of bamboo fiber (Bambusa vulgaris) reinforced epoxy composite structures was determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the quadratic model. In this study, a total of 17 experiment runs were measured and a significant regression for the coefficient between the variables was obtained. Further, the triangular and square core structures made of treated and untreated bamboo fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were tested under compressive loading. It was found that the optimum mercerization condition lies at 5.81 wt.% of the NaOH, after a soaking time of 3.99 h and a drying time of 72 h. This optimum alkaline treatment once again had a great effect on the structures whereby all the treated composite cores with square and triangular structures impressively outperformed the untreated bamboo structures. The treated triangular core of bamboo reinforced composites gave an outstanding performance compared to the treated and untreated square core composite structures for compressive loading and specific energy absorbing capability.
This study investigates the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of basalt/woven glass fiber reinforced polymer (BGRP) hybrid polyester composites. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to explore the chemical aspect, whereas the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) were performed to determine the mechanical and thermal properties. The dynamic mechanical properties were evaluated in terms of the storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factor. The FTIR results showed that incorporating single and hybrid fibers in the matrix did not change the chemical properties. The DMA findings revealed that the B7.5/G22.5 composite with 7.5 wt% of basalt fiber (B) and 22.5 wt% of glass fiber (G) exhibited the highest elastic and viscous properties, as it exhibited the higher storage modulus (8.04 × 109 MPa) and loss modulus (1.32 × 109 MPa) compared to the other samples. All the reinforced composites had better damping behavior than the neat matrix, but no further enhancement was obtained upon hybridization. The analysis also revealed that the B22.5/G7.5 composite with 22.5 wt% of basalt fiber and 7.5 wt% of glass fiber had the highest Tg at 70.80 °C, and increased by 15 °C compared to the neat matrix. TMA data suggested that the reinforced composites had relatively low dimensional stabilities than the neat matrix, particularly between 50 to 80 °C. Overall, the hybridization of basalt and glass fibers in unsaturated polyester formed composites with higher mechanical and thermal properties than single reinforced composites.
The bio-inspired structure (e.g., honeycomb) has been studied for its ability to absorb energy and its high strength. The cell size and wall thickness are the main elements that alter the structural ability to withstand load and pressure. Moreover, adding a secondary structure can increase the compressive strength and energy absorption (EA) capability. In this study, the bio-inspired structures are fabricated by fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology using polylactic acid (PLA) material. Samples are printed in the shape of a honeycomb structure, and a starfish shape is used as its reinforcement. Hence, this study focuses on the compression strength and EA of different cell sizes of 20 and 30 mm with different wall thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 mm. Subsequently, the deformation and failure of the structures are determined under the compression loading. It is found that the smaller cell size with smaller wall thickness offered a crush efficiency of 69% as compared to their larger cell size with thicker wall thickness counterparts. It is observed that for a 20 mm cell size, the EA and maximum peak load increase, respectively, when the wall thickness increases. It can be concluded that the compression strength and EA capability increase gradually as the cell size and wall thickness increase.
Developing a conductive cellulose film without any metal compounds remains challenging, though in great demand. However, cellulose film prepared from bacterial cellulose (BC) powder without any metal compounds has poor tensile, physical, and electrical properties, thus limiting its application. Herein, this study aims to prepare and characterize an all-cellulose film from 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) powders without adding metal compounds and treated by ultrasonication. TOBC powders are sonicated with various powers of 250, 500, and 750 W for 20 min without any other substance. It was proved that increasing the ultrasonication power level resulted in a significant improvement in the properties of the film. The ultrasonication of 750 W increased tensile strength by 85%, toughness by 308%, light transmittance by 542%, and electrical conductivity by 174% compared to the nonsonicated film. A light-emitting diode connected to a power source through this sonicated film was much brighter than that connected via a nonsonicated film. For the first time, this study reports the preparation of electrically conductive, transparent, strong, and bendable pure TOBC films by increasing ultrasonic power for environmentally friendly electronic devices application.
The effects of different fabric materials namely weave designs (plain and satin) and fabric counts (5 × 5 and 6 × 6) on the properties of laminated woven kenaf/carbon fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid composites were evaluated. The hybrid composites were fabricated from two types of fabric, i.e., woven kenaf that was made from a yarn of 500tex and carbon fibre, by using vacuum infusion technique and epoxy resin as matrix. The panels were tested for tensile, flexural, and impact strengths. The results have revealed that plain fabric is more suitable than satin fabric for obtaining high tensile and impact strengths. Using a fabric count of 5 × 5 has generated composites that are significantly higher in flexural modulus as compared to 6 × 6 which may be attributed to their structure and design. The scanned electron micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the composites demonstrated that plain woven fabric composites had better adhesion properties than satin woven fabric composites, as indicated by the presence of notably lower amount of fibre pull out.
The escalating need for a sustainable future has driven the advancement of renewable functional materials. Nanocellulose, derived from the abundant natural biopolymer cellulose, demonstrates noteworthy characteristics, including high surface area, crystallinity, mechanical strength, and modifiable chemistry. When combined with two-dimensional (2D) graphitic materials, nanocellulose can generate sophisticated hybrid materials with diverse applications as building blocks, carriers, scaffolds, and reinforcing constituents. This review highlights the progress of research on advanced functional materials based on the integration of nanocellulose, a versatile biopolymer with tailorable properties, and MXenes, a new class of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides known for their excellent conductivity, mechanical strength, and large surface area. By addressing the challenges and envisioning future prospects, this review underscores the burgeoning opportunities inherent in MXene/nanocellulose composites, heralding a sustainable frontier in the field of materials science.
Developing a simple and environmentally friendly method to vary the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of cellulose films is of great importance. This study aimed to characterize 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized bacterial cellulose (BC) films prepared using non-pressurized hot water vapor (NPHWV) method. A wet BC-pellicle that had been oxidized with TEMPO was treated with NPHWV for 60, 120, and 240 minutes, respectively. As a control, a TEMPO-oxidized BC (TOBC) film without NPHWV was prepared. The results show that the longer NPHWV duration of the TOBC film increased the tensile and thermal properties. This film became more hydrophobic and showed lower moisture absorption, thermal conductivity and organic solvent uptake, more crystalline structure, and higher fiber density after NPHWV treatment. The acquired results provide a simple, inexpensive, and ecologically friendly method for varying TOBC film properties.
The rapid use of petroleum resources coupled with increased awareness of global environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum-based plastics is a major driving force in the acceptance of natural fibers and biopolymers as green materials. Because of their environmentally friendly and sustainable nature, natural fibers and biopolymers have gained significant attention from scientists and industries. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a plant that has various purposes for use. It is the primary source of food in many countries and is also used in the production of biocomposites, biopolymers, and biofibers. Starch from cassava can be plasticized, reinforced with fibers, or blended with other polymers to strengthen their properties. Besides that, it is currently used as a raw material for bioethanol and renewable energy production. This comprehensive review paper explains the latest developments in bioethanol compounds from cassava and gives a detailed report on macro and nano-sized cassava fibers and starch, and their fabrication as blend polymers, biocomposites, and hybrid composites. The review also highlights the potential utilization of cassava fibers and biopolymers for industrial applications such as food, bioenergy, packaging, automotive, and others.
Natural fibers have attracted great attention from industrial players and researchers for the exploitation of polymer composites because of their "greener" nature and contribution to sustainable practice. Various industries have shifted toward sustainable technology in order to improve the balance between the environment and social and economic concerns. This manuscript aims to provide a brief review of the development of the foremost natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite (NFRPC) product designs and their applications. The first part of the manuscript presents a summary of the background of various natural fibers and their composites in the context of engineering applications. The behaviors of NFPCs vary with fiber type, source, and structure. Several drawbacks of NFPCs, e.g., higher water absorption rate, inferior fire resistance, and lower mechanical properties, have limited their applications. This has necessitated the development of good practice in systematic engineering design in order to attain optimized NRPC products. Product design and manufacturing engineering need to move in a mutually considerate manner in order to produce successful natural fiber-based composite material products. The design process involves concept design, material selection, and finally, the manufacturing of the design. Numerous products have been commercialized using natural fibers, e.g., sports equipment, musical instruments, and electronic products. In the end, this review provides a guideline for the product design process based on natural fibers, which subsequently leads to a sustainable design.