Biofiber natural fibers

Cellulosic fiber reinforced polymeric composites find applications in many fields ranging from the construction industry to the automotive industry. The reinforcing efficiency of natural fiber is related to the namre of cellulose and its crystallinity. The main components of natural fibers are cellulose (a-cellulose), hemicelluloses, lignin, pectins, and waxes. For example, biopolymers or synthetic polymers reinforced with natural or biofibers (termed biocomposites) are a viable alternative to glass fiber composites. The term biocomposite is now being applied to a staggering range of materials derived wholly or in part from renewable biomass resources [23]. 

Thakur VK, Singha AS, Misra BN (2011) Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto cellulosic biofibers. J Appl Polym Sci 122(l) 532-544. doi 10.1002/app.34094 Thakur VK, Singha AS, Thakur MK (2012a) Green composites from natural fibers mechanical and chemical aging properties. Int J Polym Anal Charact 17(6) 401-407. doi 10.1080/... 

Mohanty, A.K., Misra, M., and Drzal, L.T. (2001) Surface modifications of natural fibers and performance of the resulting biocomposites an overview. Compos. Interfaces, 8 (5), 313-343. Mohanty, A.K., Misra, M., and Hinrichsen, G. (2000) Biofibers, biodegradable polymers and biocomposites an overview. Macromol. Mater. Eng., 276-277, 1-24. 

Cellulosic fibers, which are currently viewed as viable alternatives to synthetic fibers in the manufacture of NFRPs, have already established their place in the infrastmcture and commercial products market Currently, many types of natural fibers, derived from either wood and agricultural fibrous plants (such as flax, hemp, jute, and kenaf) or vegetable wastes (such as bagasse, rice husk, and grass), have already been investigated for use with plastics. Table 6.1 shows a list of biofibers and their sources [10] a more detailed discussion on natural fiber reinforcements can be found in Chapter 3 of this book. In general, biofibers can be considered... 

The hydrophilic nature of cellulose fibers often results in poor compatibiHty with hydrophobic polymer matrices. Therefore, it becomes necessary to modify the surface of natural fiber for better binding between fiber and matrix. Chemicals are commonly used for the modification of cellulosic materials but large amount of solvents are also usually involved. Surface modification of biofibers using bacterial cellulose (BC) is one of the best methods for greener surface treatment of biofibers. 

The introduction of BC onto biofibers provides new means of controlling the interaction between natural fibers and polymer matrices. Coating of biofibers with BC does not only fadHtate good distribution of BC within the matrix but also results in an improved interfadal adhesion between the fibers and the matrix. This enhances the interaction between the biofibers and the polymer matrix through mechanical interlocking. BC-coated natural fibers introduced nanocellulose at the interface between the fibers and the matrix, leading to increased stiffness of the matrix around the natural fibers [97, 98). 

Use of biofibers in producing composites dates back the middle of the 20th century, when cellulose fibers were mixed first with phenolics and then with urea and melamine. Nowadays, the fiber-reinforced composites market is believed to be a multibillion-dollar business [3], In 2012 alone, in Europe, the total volume of the wood-polymer composites amounted 260,000 ton (plus 90,000 ton of natural fiber composites for the automotive industry) [4],... 

Gatenholm et al. [23] studied the nature of adhesion in the composites of modified cellulose fibers and pol)q>ropylene. Biofibers were surface-modified... 

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