Plant-based fibres composites

Epoxide resins reinforced with carbon and Aramid fibres have been used in small boats, where it is claimed that products of equal stiffness and more useable space may be produced with a 40% saving in weight over traditional polyester/ glass fibre composites. Aramid fibre-reinforced epoxide resins have been developed in the United States to replace steel helmets for military purposes. Printed circuit board bases also provide a substantial outlet for epoxide resins. One recent survey indicates that over one-quarter of epoxide resin production in Western Europe is used for this application. The laminates also find some use in chermical engineering plant and in tooling. 

M.M. Kabir, H. Wang, K.T. Lau and E Cardona, Chemical treatments on plant-based natural fibre reinforced polymer composites An overview. Compos. B 43, 2883-2892 (2012). 

Fibres can be combined with traditional resins or newer plant based resins. The result is a plant-based alternative for many traditional steel and fibreglass products. Green composites have specific advantages over traditional composites like reduced weight, increased flexibility and greater mouldability. They are also less expensive. These composites have sound insulation capability and are sustainable. In this chapter, we discuss the preparation, structure and... 

Natural fibres can be obtained from various parts of a plant, as shown in Table 13.2. Natural fibres can be continuous fibres, short fibres, whiskers or particles, as shown in Figure 13.4. Types of polymer composite based on shape and structure are divided into particle, fibre and structural. 

Afikim Carbon Fibers, Kibbutz Afikim, Israel—acquired technology and plant from RK Textiles Composite Fibres Ltd. in the UK to produce a range of PAN based ACIF carbon fibers. 

Back to Namre is the present day mantra of the modem world. The current trend is to find out new materials based on natural substances. Increased environmental awareness and the current economic simations tempt the modem man to make use of Natural fibres in developing new composite materials. Namral fibres are extracted from various parts of plants, and several extraction procedures are in vogue. The fibre properties depend on the part of the plant from which the fibres are obtained and the extraction methods used. 

Nakagaito AN, Yano H (2004) The effect of morphological changes from pulp fibre towards nanoscale fibrillated cellulose on the mechanical properties of high-strength plant fibre based composites. Appl Phys A 78 547-552... 

Daimler Chrysler has been increasing its research and development in flax-reinforced polyester composites for exterior applications for a number of years now [80]. Mercedes also used jute-based door panels in its E-class vehicles in 1996 [81]. Cotton fibres embedded in polyester matrix were used in the body of the East German Trabant car [82]. Some other applications are on Mercedes A and S class mamade from different bio-fibre-reinforced composites [83], Lotus manufactured Eco Elise bodyworks which contains hemp fibres, while sisal fibres are used for interior trimmings while the inner door panels for the BMW 7 Series contain 70% of sisal fibres. Plant fibre-reinforced polylactic acid composites with improved rigidity and reduced processing times have been applied in the Toyota Lexus HS250h hybrid vehicle recently. 

Agro-based lignocellulosics suitable for composites come from two main sources. The first is agricultural residues and the second is those lignocellulosics grown specifically for their fibre. The first source includes rice husks or cereal straws, which are by-products of food or feed crops and can be used for everyday purposes such as animal bedding or fuel or alternatively are simply left on the field or burnt to reduce mass. Two examples of the second source are jute and kenaf. These plants also have residues, which are often used for bedding or fuel as well. 

Plant oils and animal fat are mostly unsatured fatty acids. Some of these oily products are already well known by the public from their use in paint (e.g., flax (linseed) tung oils are drying oils used in paints, varnishes and enamels) or in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and lubricant applications. Plant oils increasingly become a source of raw material to produce thermoset resins that can be mixed widi natural fibres in order to achieve light and resistant composite materials. The combination of bio-based resins with natural fibres (plant and poultry) or... 

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