State of the Art: Natural fibre-reinforced composites in advanced development and their physical/chemical/mechanical properties

Abstract

Nowadays, people are highly conscious of the environment, leading to rapid growth and progress in research and innovation in eco-friendly natural fiber composites (NFCs), which are also cost-effective. The sustainable development of biodegradable NFCs obtained from renewable sources is paving the way for the replacement of synthetic fiber composites. Furthermore, researchers are focusing on enhancing the mechanical performance of NFCs for various applications. Some renewable sources, such as rice, wheat, and corn, have been used to produce polylactic acid-based NFCs. Due to their low greenhouse gas emissions and minimal energy consumption during production, NFCs are also suitable for 3D printing applications. However, they do have some drawbacks, and to overcome them, they are often blended with other NFCs. The purpose of this review article is to provide data on the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites to assist new researchers. The central idea is that natural, biodegradable, and eco-friendly materials can replace plastics, enhancing their properties in terms of mechanical strength, thermal resistance, antimicrobial properties, water absorption, and degradability. The use of NFCs is flourishing in various fields. Every year, a substantial amount of agricultural waste with potential fibers is discarded. Some examples of waste products include fruit, including areca and tamarind. The reinforcement obtained from these materials is utilized in polymer composites for lightweight structures, the automotive industry, and domestic applications.