Polymer Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers and Nanocellulose in the Automotive Industry: A Short Review

Abstract

Environmental concerns and cost reduction have encouraged the use of natural fillers as reinforcement in polymer composites. Currently, a wide variety of reinforcement, such as natural fibers and nanocellulose, are used for this purpose. Composite materials with natural fillers have not only met the environmental appeal, but also contribute to developing low-density materials with improved properties. The production of natural fillers is unlimited around the world, and many species are still to be discovered. Their processing is considered beneficial since the natural fillers do not cause corrosion or great wear of the equipment. For these reasons, polymer reinforced with natural fillers has been considered a good alternative for obtaining ecofriendly materials for several applications, including the automotive industry. This review explores the use of natural fillers (natural fibers, cellulose nanocrystals, and nanofibrillated cellulose) as reinforcement in polymer composites for the automotive industry.

Nano-Brushes of Alcohols Grafted onto Cellulose Nanocrystals for Reinforcing Poly(Butylene Succinate): Impact of Alcohol Chain Length on Interfacial Adhesion

“…This paper proposes that processing PBS with CNCs of tailored surface properties would PBS is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, which is produced by the polycondensation of 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid [24]. It was invented in the early 1990s with similar properties to poly(ethylene) and poly(propylene) [25], and has shown great potential in many applications including automotive and packaging industries and tissue engineering [26][27][28]. PBS has been processed with CNCs to improve its mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties, its biodegradability, and to control its morphology and crystallization [29][30][31][32].…”

Vegetable Additives in Food Packaging Polymeric Materials

“…In the case of nanocellulose, different mechanisms allow the nanocellulose to influence and enhance the polymer properties [101], i.e., the formation of a network of long nanoscale fibers [101]; the interaction between nanoparticles/nanofibrils, which is controlled not only by Van der Waals forces but also by strong hydrogen bonds [102,103]; and also the adhesion to the polymer matrix, which is dominated by hydrogen bonding [104,105]. Different to carbon nanoparticles, nanocellulose fibrils do not form clusters but percolation networks [106], which have a positive effect on the strength of the composites [107].…”

“…Polymers 2020, 12, 28 11 of 36 carbon nanoparticles, nanocellulose fibrils do not form clusters but percolation networks [106], which have a positive effect on the strength of the composites [107]. Cellulose nanofibers are characterized by a short-rod-like shape less than 100 nm in diameter and several micrometers in length with ordered regions ( Figure 5), induced by the linear nature of the cellulose polymers and the extensive intermolecular attractions between adjacent chains [108].…”

Bagasse sugarcane fibers as reinforcement agents for natural composites: description and polymer composite applications

“…Several processes and publications have been reported describing the use of sugarcane bagasse as a raw material for reinforcing composites. Polymer composites based on thermoset resins [51]- [54], foams [55], rubbers [56] and thermoplastic ones such as PE [45], LDPE [57], HDPE [58], PU [59], PLA [60], PP [61] [62], and PVC [63]. Many industries apply natural fiber composite materials in their manufacturing processes, civil engineering [64], construction [65], automotive [66], military [67], aerospace, marine, clothing [68], among others [69], [70].…”