In the contemporary world, natural fibers reinforced polymer composite (NFRPC) materials are of great interest owing to their eco-friendly nature, lightweight, life-cycle superiority, biodegradability, low cost, noble mechanical properties. NFRPCs are widely applied in various engineering applications and this research field is continuously developing. However, the researchers are facing numerous challenges regarding the developments and applications of NFPRCs due to the inherent characteristics of natural fibers (NFs). These challenges include quality of the fiber, thermal stability, water absorption capacity, and incompatibility with the polymer matrices. Ecological and economic concerns are animating new research in the field of NFRPCs. Furthermore, considerable research is carried out to improve the performance of NFRPCs in recent years. This review highlights some of the important breakthroughs associated with the NFRPCs in terms of sustainability, eco-friendliness, and economic perspective. It also includes hybridization of NFs with synthetic fibers which is a highly effective way of improving the mechanical properties of NFRPCs along with some chemical treatment procedures. This review also elucidates the significance of using numerical models for NFRPCs. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are drawn to assist the researchers with future research directions.

Natural fiber reinforced composites: Sustainable materials for emerging applications

A review on extraction, chemical treatment, characterization of natural fibers and its composites for potential applications

Polymer composites filled with metal derivatives have been widely used in recent years, particularly as flame retardants, due to their superior characteristics, including high thermal behavior, low environmental degradation, and good fire resistance. The hybridization of metal and polymer composites produces various favorable properties, making them ideal materials for various advanced applications. The fire resistance performance of polymer composites can be enhanced by increasing the combustion capability of composite materials through the inclusion of metallic fireproof materials to protect the composites. The final properties of the metal-filled thermoplastic composites depend on several factors, including pore shape and distribution and morphology of metal particles. For example, fire safety equipment uses polyester thermoplastic and antimony sources with halogenated additives. The use of metals as additives in composites has captured the attention of researchers worldwide due to safety concern in consideration of people’s life and public properties. This review establishes the state-of-art flame resistance properties of metals/polymer composites for numerous industrial applications.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/11/1701/pdf

Polymer Composites Filled with Metal Derivatives: A Review of Flame Retardants.

Enhancement of impact toughness and damage behaviour of natural fibre reinforced composites and their hybrids through novel improvement techniques: A critical review

Increasing scientific interest has occurred concerning the utilization of natural fiber-enhanced hybrid composites that incorporate one or more types of natural enhancement. Annual natural fiber production is estimated to be 1,783,965 × 103 tons/year. Extensive studies have been conducted in the domains of natural/synthetic as well as natural/natural hybrid composites. As synthetic fibers have better rigidity and strength than natural fibers, natural/synthetic hybrid composites have superior qualities via hybridization compared to natural composites in fibers. In general, natural fiber compounds have lower characteristics, limiting the use of natural composites reinforced by fiber. Significant effort was spent in enhancing the mechanical characteristics of this group of materials to increase their strengths and applications, especially via the hybridization process, by manipulating the characteristics of fiber-reinforced composite materials. Current studies concentrate on enhancing the understanding of natural fiber-matrix adhesion, enhancing processing methods, and natural fiber compatibility. The optimal and resilient conceptions have also been addressed due to the inherently more significant variabilities. Moreover, much research has tackled natural fiber reinforced hybrid composite costs. In addition, this review article aims to offer a review of the variables that lead to the mechanical and structural failure of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites, as well as an overview of the details and costings of the composites.

Critical Review of Natural Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites: Processing, Properties, Applications and Cost

Fatigue life characteristic of hybrid composite reinforced metal laminate is a notable investigation since this kind of material offers several superior characteristics over conventional metallic a...

Investigation on the fatigue life characteristic of kenaf/glass woven-ply reinforced metal sandwich materials

The hybridization of natural and synthetic fibers in
composite materials has gained the attention in the
research field due to environmental awareness. Therefore,
this study focuses on the effects of fiber stacking
configuration on the tensile and quasi-static penetration
of kenaf/glass hybrid fiber metal laminates (FMLs).
Kenaf/glass reinforced polypropylene FMLs with two different hybrid stacking configurations were prepared
using hot compression process. Non-hybrid kenaf and glass fiber reinforced metal laminates were also prepared
for comparison. The tensile test was conducted according to ASTM E8, while the quasi-static penetration test was carried out in accordance with ASTM D 6264 using 12.7 and 20 mm hemispherical indenters. The fractured surface of FMLs due to tensile loading was examined using scanning electron microscope, while optical micrograph was used to investigate the failure mechanism of quasi-statically penetrated laminates. From the results, FMLs with the glass plies at the outer layers of composite (H1) showed a positive hybrid effect as they displayed better tensile and penetration resistance, compared to the non-hybrid kenaf
and glass reinforced FMLs. Furthermore, it could be seen that the overall performance of FMLs decreased as the kenaf content in the laminates further increases for hybrid FML.

The Effects Of Stacking Configuration On The Response Of Tensile And Quasi-Static Penetration To Woven Kenaf/Glass Hybrid Composite Metal Laminate

Mechanical properties and water absorption of kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites

Alkali and Silane Treatments towards Exemplary Mechanical Properties of Kenaf and Pineapple Leaf Fibre-reinforced Composites

The use of polymer-based composites has been gaining popularity in the industry over the last few decades. Their high strength to weight ratio and high fatigue resistance make these composites the ...

Ng Lin Feng

Papers

Investigation on the fatigue life characteristic of kenaf/glass woven-ply reinforced metal sandwich materials

The Effects Of Stacking Configuration On The Response Of Tensile And Quasi-Static Penetration To Woven Kenaf/Glass Hybrid Composite Metal Laminate

Mechanical properties and water absorption of kenaf/pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites

Alkali and Silane Treatments towards Exemplary Mechanical Properties of Kenaf and Pineapple Leaf Fibre-reinforced Composites

A review of the tensile and fatigue responses of cellulosic fibre-reinforced polymer composites