Natural fiber-reinforced composites have the potential to replace synthetic composites, leading to less expensive, stronger and more environmentally-friendly materials. This book provides a detailed review on how a broad range of biofibers can be used as reinforcements in composites and assesses their overall performance. The book is divided into five major parts according to the origins of the different biofibers. Part I contains chapters on bast fibers, Part II; leaf fibers, Part III; seed fibers, Part IV; grass, reed and cane fibers, and finally Part V covers wood, cellulosic and other fibers including cellulosic nanofibers. Each chapter reviews a specific type of biofiber providing detailed information on the sources of each fiber, their cultivation, how to process and prepare them, and how to integrate them into composite materials. The chapters outline current and potential applications for each fiber and discuss their main strengths and weaknesses. - The book is divided into five major parts according to the origins of the different biofibers - bast, leaf, seed; grass, reed and cane fibers, and finally wood, cellulosic and other fibers including cellulosic nanofibers. - This book provides a detailed review on how a broad range of biofibers can be used as reinforcements in composites and assesses their overall performance - The chapters outline current and potential applications for each fiber and discuss their main strengths and weaknesses

This book provides an overview on the latest technology and applications of bio-based fiber composite materials. It covers the mechanical and thermal properties of bio-fibers for polymeric resins and explains the different pre-treatment methods used by the researchers for the enhancement. In addition, this book also presents a complete analysis on the tribological behavior of bio-fiber reinforced polymer composites to appreciate the friction and wear behavior. This book would be a handy to the industrial practitioners and researchers in the direction of achieving optimum design for the components made of natural fiber based polymer matrix composites.

Biofibers are emerging as a low cost, lightweight and environmentally superior alternative in composites. Generally, different fibers exhibit different properties that are fundamentally important to the resultant composites. This chapter gives an overview of the most common biofibers in biocomposites, covering their sources, types, structure, composition, and properties. Drawbacks of biofibers, such as dimensional instability, moisture absorption, biological, ultraviolet and fire resistance, will be discussed. The chapter will focus on their modifications (physical and chemical methods), matrices based on their petrochemical resources and bio-based, processing of biofiber reinforced plastic composites covering the factors influencing processing (humidity, additives, machinery, processing parameter, fiber content and length), and processing techniques (compounding, compression molding, extrusion, injection molding, pultrusion and others) will be discussed. The properties of the biocomposites based on their mechanical, physical, and biological behavior will also be covered. Lastly, this chapter concludes with recent developments and trends of biocomposites in the near future in civil engineering.

This comprehensive single volume handbook covers every aspect of reinforcement science, from hands-on subjects, such as manual 'lay-up' processing, to theoretical discussions concerning rheology and modeling. Taken from the recently published six volume International Encyclopedia of Composites, this reference volume offers scholarly and practical knowledge of distinguished industry-experts, academics, and government researchers in one accessible and informative handbook. Fibers, processes, and composite reinforcement types, as well as relevant miscellaneous subjects such as property relationships, manufacturing, hybrid reinforcements, and modeling are given detailed treatment. Engineers, materials scientists, and technologists will find the Composite Reinforcement Handbook an invaluable tool.

This book presents an introduction to the design and manufacture of fibre-reinforced composites. The mechanical properties of unidirectional composites are considered in a structural design context. The use of woven and random fibres is also addressed. The accuracy of design estimates for unidirectional composites is benchmarked against test data, and the relevance of a factor of safety (FoS) is established. The importance of prototype testing is emphasised. This book illustrates how to make a fibre-reinforced composite. Wet layup, vacuum bagging and prepreg moulding are covered in detail. Some guidance on mould design and construction is also provided. Finally, an introduction to the manufacture of composite tubes is presented. Wherever possible, design and make examples are used to illustrate the content. Tutorial questions and problems are included at the end of each chapter. The reader is encouraged to use these questions and problems to assess their own level of understanding of the content.

Polymer-based fibre-reinforced composites FRC's have now come out as a major class of structural materials being used or regarded as substituent's for metals in several critical components in space, automotive and other industries (marine, and sports goods) owing to their low density, strength-weight ratio, and fatigue strength. FRC's have several commercial as well as industrial applications ranging from aircraft, space, automotive, sporting goods, marine, and infrastructure. The above-mentioned applications of FRC's clearly reveal that FRC's have the potential to be used in a broad range of different engineering fields with the added advantages of low density, and resistance to corrosion compared to conventional metallic and ceramic composites. However, for scientists/researchers/R&D's to fabricate FRC's with such potential there should be careful and precise design followed by suitable process development based on properties like mechanical, physical, and thermal that are unique to each application. Hence the last few decades have witnessed considerable research on fibre reinforced composites. Fibre Reinforced Composites: Constituents, Compatibility, Perspectives and Applications presents a widespread all-inclusive review on fibre-reinforced composites ranging from the different types of processing techniques to chemical modification of the fibre surface to enhance the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and fibre and the structure-property relationship. It illustrates how high value composites can be produced by efficient and sustainable processing methods by selecting different constituents [fibres and resins]. Researchers in academia working in composites and accompanying areas [materials characterisation] and industrial manufacturers who need information on composite constituents and how they relate to each other for a certain application will find the book extremely useful when they need to make decisions about materials selection for their products. - Focuses on the different types of FRC's that are currently available (e.g. from polymeric matrices to metallic and ceramic matrices, from carbon fibre to different types of natural fibres and from short to long fibre reinforced), their processing techniques, characterization of different properties, and how to improve the interfacial adhesion between an incompatible fibre and matrix and their applications - Looks at crisis areas such as how to incorporate incompatible fibres and matrices together (e.g. Non-polar polypropylene matrix is not compatible with that of polar natural fibres and hence suitable surface modifications are required to make them compatible with each other) along with low cost processing methods, low density and high strength - Uncovers clarifications to both elementary and practical problems related to the fabrication of FRCs - Schematic representations depicting the interaction between different fibre types and matrices will be provided in some chapters

Cellulose Fibre Reinforced Composites: Interface Engineering, Processing and Performance provides an up-to-date review of current research in cellulose fiber reinforced polymer composites. Key emphasis is placed on interface engineering, modern technologies needed for processing and materials performance in industrial applications. Novel techniques for interfacial adhesion, characterization and assessment of cellulose fiber reinforced composites are also discussed, along with current trends and future directions. With contributions from leading researchers in industry, academic, government and private research institutions from across the globe, the book will be an essential reference resource for all those working in the field of cellulose fibers and their composites. - Reviews advances in recent research towards enhancing the mechanical properties of cellulose fiber composites - Discusses interface engineering and modern technologies needed for processing cellulose fiber composites - Includes case studies of problems with interfaces and practical industrial applications

This book highlights the most essential advances in nanoclay-based nanocomposites, especially natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Readers will find extensive information on nanoclay from preparation to applications, and the characterization techniques needed in order to evaluate the resulting properties of nanoclay-based natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Topics covered include the characterization of nano-sized clay, chemical modification, and processing techniques for nanocomposites from nanoclay. The book offers a valuable reference guide for academics and industrial practitioners alike.