Researchers have worked on natural fibers to identify their expanded applications and benefits. Natural fibers can be obtained from plants, animals, and mineral base. Plant fibers as a reinforcement material plays a prominent role in developing natural fiber composites. Among the plant fibers bast and leaf fibers provide good mechanical properties because of their stiffness and hard structure. Generally, plant fibers can be divided into primary cell wall and secondary cell wall. Primary cell wall comprises of disordered cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin etc. Secondary cell wall has crystalline cellulose in which S2 cell is responsible for mechanical properties. Hemicellulose acts as a matrix material which surrounds the cellulose structure and lignin provides extra strength by protecting the fiber from external damage. This makes the cellulose to have strength and stiffness. As the cell divides, the cellulose and lignin amount rise but the polyose content remains same throughout. The properties of natural fibers when reinforced with polymer matrix includes fiber content, orientation, microfibrillar angle, interfacial bond between the fiber and matrix, high water content etc. However, when plant fibers get reinforced with the hydrophobic matrix it results in poor bonding leading to less mechanical properties. This is due to the fact that hemicellulose absorbs more water content from the atmosphere and form new hydrogen bonds on the surface which makes the fiber to be hydrophilic. This hydrogen bond formation can be reduced by treating the fibers chemically with different processes. In addition to this, the components such as lignin, pectin, wax, and oily substances will be removed to a better extent, and it will result in enhanced stability of the fiber. The properties that impact the influence between the fiber and matrix are expressed as follows: i) Proper mating of two unique materials ii) Dispersion of fiber content in the matrix iii) Orientation of fiber iv) Better surface interaction. Upon treating the fibers with different treatment process the mechanical properties of composites get enhanced by reduced water-intake and better interfacial adhesion. Sreenivasan et al reported that potassium permanganate treated short sansevieria cylindrica reinforced polyester composites showed minimum water intake when compared to other treated fibers.
Researchers have worked on
natural
fibers
to identify their expanded applications and benefits.
Natural
fibers
can
be obtained
from
plants
, animals, and mineral base.
Plant
fibers
as a reinforcement material plays a prominent role in developing
natural
fiber
composites. Among the
plant
fibers
bast and leaf
fibers
provide
good
mechanical
properties
because
of their stiffness and
hard
structure.
Generally
,
plant
fibers
can
be divided
into primary
cell
wall
and secondary
cell
wall
. Primary
cell
wall
comprises of
disordered
cellulose
,
hemicellulose
, lignin and pectin etc. Secondary
cell
wall
has crystalline
cellulose
in which S2
cell
is responsible for
mechanical
properties
.
Hemicellulose
acts as a matrix material which surrounds the
cellulose
structure and lignin provides extra strength by protecting the
fiber
from external damage. This
makes
the
cellulose
to have strength and stiffness. As the
cell
divides, the
cellulose
and lignin amount rise
but
the
polyose
content
remains same throughout. The
properties
of
natural
fibers
when reinforced with polymer matrix includes
fiber
content
, orientation,
microfibrillar
angle, interfacial bond between the
fiber
and matrix, high water
content
etc.
However
, when
plant
fibers
get
reinforced with the hydrophobic matrix it results in poor bonding leading to less
mechanical
properties
.
This is due to the fact that
hemicellulose
absorbs more water
content
from the atmosphere and form new hydrogen bonds on the surface which
makes
the
fiber
to be hydrophilic. This hydrogen bond formation can be
reduced
by treating the
fibers
chemically
with
different
processes.
In addition
to this, the components such as lignin, pectin, wax, and oily substances will
be removed
to a better extent, and it will result in enhanced stability of the
fiber
. The
properties
that impact the influence between the
fiber
and matrix
are expressed
as follows: i) Proper mating of two unique materials ii) Dispersion of
fiber
content
in the matrix iii) Orientation of
fiber
iv) Better surface interaction. Upon treating the
fibers
with
different
treatment process the
mechanical
properties
of composites
get
enhanced by
reduced
water-intake and better interfacial adhesion.
Sreenivasan
et al
reported that potassium permanganate treated short
sansevieria
cylindrica
reinforced polyester composites
showed
minimum water intake when compared to other treated
fibers
.