Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010

Among the main contributors to the gross domestic product of all countries are their natural resources, whose improper utilization adds problems to the lack of proper data on their availability and structure/property correlations. If these data were made available, they would help in achieving objectives of value addition and employment generation. This paper describes the availability of some of the Brazilian lignocellulosic fibers, their market, extraction methods, reported morphology, properties and their present applications. Some perspectives for these fibers are also presented, considering their growing importance and their whole spectrum of promising opportunities and challenges for Brazil and other developing countries.

Studies on lignocellulosic fibers of Brazil. Part I: Source, production, morphology, properties and applications

Natural fibers today are a popular choice for applications in composite manufacturing. Based on the sustainability benefits, biofibers such as plant fibers are replacing synthetic fibers in composites. These fibers are used to manufacture several biocomposites. The chemical composition and properties of each of the fibers changes, which demands the detailed comparison of these fibers. The reinforcement potential of natural fibers and their properties have been described in numerous papers. Today, high performance biocomposites are produced from several years of research. Plant fibers, particularly bast and leaf, find applications in automotive industries. While most of the other fibers are explored in lab scales they have not yet found large-scale commercial applications. It is necessary to also consider other fibers such as ones made from seed (coir) and animals (chicken feather) as they are secondary or made from waste products. Few plant fibers such as bast fibers are often reviewed briefly but other p...

A Review of Natural Fibers Used in Biocomposites: Plant, Animal and Regenerated Cellulose Fibers

Low-field permanent magnets for industrial process and quality control.

The natural, bio-degradable features and chemical constituents of the sugarcane bagasse (SCB) have been attracting attention as a highly potential and versatile ingredient in composite materials. Eco-friendly and low cost considerations have set the momentum for material science researchers to identify green materials that give low pollutant indexes. Various components of SCB is shown to possess the ability of being applied as raw material for manufacturing of composite materials at multiple levels of properties and performances. Studies on the impacts, performances and applications of SCB in its original condition; transformed forms; treated with appropriate chemicals and/or processes; in combination with materials of distinct properties and manipulation of manufacturing methodologies have been duly considered. This paper attempts to summarize a review of current literature on the extensive studies that have been undertaken in an attempt to explore plausible applications and potentials of SCB for composite material.

Sugarcane bagasse—The future composite material: A literature review

Impact behavior of sugarcane bagasse waste–EVA composites

A solid state NMR carbon-13 high resolution study of natural fiber from sugar cane and their composites with EVA

Carbon-13 high resolution solid state NMR study of natural fibres obtained from sugar cane without treatment and their composites with EVA

In the last decades, the growing environmental awareness has resulted in a renewed interest in the use of natural materials for different applications. In this context, the use of wood in plastic to obtain composites has grown significantly. In the present work, heartwood and sapwood from Angelim Pedra (Hymenolobiun petraeum) were used to prepare PVC/wood composites. To study the composites with different wood types and filler contents the molecular dynamic was investigated through low field NMR by poton spin- lattice relaxation time measurements (T 1 H) and the thermal behavior was characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) focusing the glass transition temperature and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) observing the changes in the thermal stability. It was found that increasing addition of wood flour (sapwood and heartwood) caused a small but progressive improvement of the decomposition temperature of the composites, whereas the glass transition temperature remains practically unchanged. In the molecular dynamic behavior, a gradual decrease in T 1 H values was observed with increasing sapwood and heartwood content, indicating that the composites became less rigid. The distribution curves of the domains showed a better interaction and phase dispersion between the composite components with higher filler content.

G. C. Stael

Papers

Impact behavior of sugarcane bagasse waste–EVA composites

A solid state NMR carbon-13 high resolution study of natural fiber from sugar cane and their composites with EVA

Carbon-13 high resolution solid state NMR study of natural fibres obtained from sugar cane without treatment and their composites with EVA

Effect of Wood Content on The Thermal Behavior and on The Molecular Dynamics of Wood/Plastic Composites

NMR carbon-13 high resolution study of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)