A review on the enhancement of composite’s interface properties through biological treatment of natural fibre/lignocellulosic material

Abstract

Natural fibre or lignocellulosic fibres have aroused the attention of scientists in the polymer industry, given their eco-friendly, low density, and biodegradability. Nevertheless, the major obstacle to wide commercial applications is the incompatibility between polar natural plant fibres with non-polar polymer matrix due to different chemical constitutions. Therefore, surface treatment of natural fibres before they are implemented to prepare fibre-reinforced composites is considered. Chemical and physical treatments are not preferred as it involves hazardous chemicals and high energy consumption. This review article provides an overview of various environmentally friendly approaches, such as introducing bacterial nanocellulose, pre-treatment with bacterial cellulase, fungal treatment, and enzymatic treatments aimed to treat natural fibres. The implications of working mechanisms on the characteristics of fibre itself and polymer composites with reinforcement are reviewed. The application of treated fibres reinforced composites and comparison of biological treatment with other treatments are discussed in this article. It is evidenced that fibre that undergoes biological modifications facilitates better fibre-matrix interfacial adhesion, has stronger mechanical bonding with the matrix, along with the reduction of water uptake of the composites.

Surface activation of viscose textiles via air, argon, and oxygen dielectric barrier discharge plasma: influence of peak voltage

“…Furthermore, it can be inferred that the enhanced wettability of viscose fibres is attributed to the etching and elimination of amorphous regions, which are known to occur in the less ordered sections of the fibres and on the surface of crystallites [45]. This conclusion is supported by the susceptibility of amorphous regions to plasma etching and ablation, as indicated by previous studies [44,46]. Due to the morphological changes in the fibre walls caused by treatment, the treated fibres become more hydrophilic and easier for dyes to penetrate.…”

Valorization of Kraft Lignins from Different Poplar Genotypes as Vegetable Oil Structuring Agents via Electrospinning for Biolubricant Applications

“…Once dispersed in castor oil, nanofibers become more agglomerated and swollen (see the average fiber diameter values inserted in SEM images), but the fiber length are not noticeably altered by the gentle stirring used to disperse the nanostructures in the oil. Considering that castor oil is a moderately polar oil, these findings can be explained by taking into account the hydrophilic nature of poplar Kraft lignin, which facilitates the penetration of castor oil triglycerides into the fibers by a physical mechanism of diffusion, leading to subsequent hydrogen bonding and swelling. A similar swelling degree has been previously reported in dispersions of electrospun composites of lignocellulosic material derived from spent coffee grounds and postconsumer PET in castor oil, which was mainly attributed to the polar lignocellulosic material in detriment to PET .…”

Methods of Analyses for Biodegradable Polymers: A Review

“…In the foreseeable future, the effective production of polymers exhibiting improved properties at reduced costs may become more crucial for realizing a sustainable society. Various initiatives have been proposed to lower the manufacturing costs of biopoly-mers, among which is a method based on utilizing industrial by-products such as molasses, waste glycerol, and banana frond extract [33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”