Recent Development in the Processing, Properties, and Applications of Epoxy-Based Natural Fiber Polymer Biocomposites

Abstract

Growing environmental concerns have increased the scientific interest in the utilization of natural fibers for the development of epoxy biocomposite materials. The incorporation of one or more fibers in the production of hybrid epoxy polymer composites has been a subject of discussion. It is interesting to acknowledge that natural/synthetic fiber hybridized epoxy composites have superior properties over natural/natural fiber hybridized epoxy composites. Significant efforts have been devoted to the improvement of natural fiber surface modifications to promote bonding with the epoxy matrix. However, to achieve sufficient surface modification without destroying the natural fibers, optimization of treatment parameters such as the concentration of the treatment solution and treatment time is highly necessary. Synthetic and treated natural fiber hybridization in an epoxy matrix is expected to produce biocomposites with appreciable biodegradability and superior mechanical properties by manipulating the fiber/matrix interfacial bonding. This paper presents a review of studies on the processing of epoxy natural fiber composites, mechanical properties, physical properties such as density and water absorption, thermal properties, biodegradability study, nondestructive examination, morphological characterizations, and applications of epoxy-based natural fiber biocomposites. Other aspects, including a review of variables that enhance the mechanical and functional performance of epoxy/natural fibers composites while also increasing the biodegradability of the composite material for environmental sustainability, were presented. The future research focus was elucidated. It is hoped that this review will stimulate and refocus research efforts toward advancing the manufacture of epoxy/natural fiber composites to meet the growing demand for biocomposite materials in the global world.

Plant fiber‐reinforced composites based on injection molding process: Manufacturing, service life, and remanufacturing

“…On the one hand, the void content of the composites decreases when the fiber content is increased to an optimal value, which contributes to the improvement of the mechanical performance. 18 On the other hand, the addition of plant fiber promotes the heterogeneous nucleation of the matrix, improves the crystallinity, and increases with the increase in fiber content. [70][71][72][73][74] For different composites, the optimal value of fiber content is different, and there exists an upper limit.…”

“…The content of plant fibers has a significant impact on improving the mechanical properties of composites. On the one hand, the void content of the composites decreases when the fiber content is increased to an optimal value, which contributes to the improvement of the mechanical performance 18 . On the other hand, the addition of plant fiber promotes the heterogeneous nucleation of the matrix, improves the crystallinity, and increases with the increase in fiber content 70–74 .…”

“…These cover a wide range of aspects such as plant fiber sources and extraction methods, [6][7][8][9][10][11] surface modification techniques, [12][13][14][15][16] composites molding methods, 2,12,17 physicochemical properties, 6,18,19 and industrial applications. 18,20,21 Pantaloni et al 22 reviewed the fluidity and permeability of fibers in PFRCs based on liquid composite molding. Balla et al 12 reviewed the research progress of PFRCs based on additive manufacturing technology.…”

“…In the past two decades, many review papers have been reported. These cover a wide range of aspects such as plant fiber sources and extraction methods, 6–11 surface modification techniques, 12–16 composites molding methods, 2,12,17 physicochemical properties, 6,18,19 and industrial applications 18,20,21 . Pantaloni et al 22 reviewed the fluidity and permeability of fibers in PFRCs based on liquid composite molding.…”

Hybrid Epoxy Nanocomposites: Improvement in Mechanical Properties and Toughening Mechanisms—A Review

“…It focused on the toughening of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin by using solid nanoparticles with other modifiers such as rubbers, thermoplastics, thermosetting resins and diluents. It has been demonstrated that the performance properties of hybrid nanocomposites depend not only on the type and amount of components, and their eventual interactions, but also on the processing conditions [ 197 , 198 , 199 ].…”