Textile reinforcement forms (preforms) play an important role in determining the properties of the final composite and product. The preform formation process provides precise control of the fiber architecture and orientation using a suitable textile manufacturing technique. While the techniques employed for preparing glass and carbon preforms are well-known, there is still a gap in understanding on how to prepare natural preforms for composite reinforcements. Multiscale Textile Preforms and Structures for Natural Fiber Composites will bridge this gap by presenting unified knowledge on the relevant preform preparation techniques and resulting fiber architectures. Emphasis is on the structural parameters of each preform and their effect on the final composite properties. This book assembles information and knowledge on natural fiber reinforcement forms, including conventional forms, such as spun yarn, woven, knitted, nonwoven, braided, and comingled. These are illustrated and classified into one-, two-, and three-dimensional reinforcements. This book also includes information on nonconventional preform formation techniques such as unidirectional tapes, pre-impregnated preforms, spread tows, and tailored fiber placement. - Covers all relevant textile processing technology for natural fiber preforms - Provides academic researchers with a better understanding of recent practices in preparing textile reinforcements for natural fiber composites - Helps practitioners determine how to use natural fiber reinforcements in producing new sustainable and innovative composites

Design and Manufacture of Structural Composites provides an overview of the main manufacturing challenges encountered when processing fibre-reinforced composite materials. Composites are unique in that the material is created at the same time as the structure, forming a very close link between the constituents, the manufacturing process and the resulting mechanical performance. This book takes an in-depth look at material choices and the intermediate steps required to convert different fibre and matrix combinations into finished products. It provides an insight into recent developments for each of the manufacturing processes covered, addressing design, cost, rate and mechanical performance. Topics covered include an introduction to composite materials, material preforming and conversion, moulding, digital design and sustainability, which addresses waste reduction, disassembly and fibre recovery. This book has been developed primarily as a teaching resource with contributions from leading experts in the field. The content has evolved from courses given by the authors to mechanical engineering and materials science students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It also draws upon experience gained during research projects and from leading industry experts. It therefore provides non-specialists with a valuable introduction to composite manufacturing techniques, helping to determine the most suitable manufacturing routes and to understand the challenges associated with the production of high-performance composite components. - Provides an overview of the most common manufacturing routes for fibre reinforced composites, including the influence of the manufacturing route on mechanical properties, production volume and component cost - Discusses recent advances in composite manufacturing, including the use of automation, process simulation, digital factories, and solutions to improve sustainability - Looks at where the composites sector is heading and discusses some of the challenges faced by end-users looking to scale up production and increase the uptake of fibre-reinforced composites for structural applications

Natural fiber composites are a preferred alternative to conventional composites due to their environment-friendly nature. However, their market share is limited due to: a) limited number and quantities of natural fibers available for composites, b) diversity in fibers structure, c) poor mechanical properties of fibers as well as composites, d) susceptibility to microbial attacks, and e) cellulose degradation temperature around 200 deg C, which hinders the development of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites using thermoforming at high temperatures. A number of researchers have contributed to the solution of the problem of poor mechanical properties and issues related to fabrication during the last decade. This book covers these different solutions. The book is divided into two principal themes: a) structure–property relationship: fibers to composites—it includes the discussion on fibers, their surface modifications, variation in the structure of reinforcement, and approaches for the enhancement of properties. b) Fabrication process of composites—it includes the novel approaches used for the development of natural fiber composites using the commingling technique for thermoplastic composites.

Natural Fiber Textile Composite Engineering sheds light on the area of the natural fiber textile composites with new research on their applications, the material used, the methods of preparation, the different types of polymers, the selection of raw materials, the elements of design the natural fiber textile polymer composites for a particular end use, their manufacturing techniques, and finally their life cycle assessments (LCA). The volume also addresses the important issue in the materials science of how to utilize natural fibers as an enhancement to composite materials. Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been proven to provide a combination of superior mechanical property, dielectric property, and environmental advantages such as renewability and biodegradability. Natural fibers, some from agricultural waste products, can replace existing metallic and plastic parts and help to alleviate the environmental problem of increasing amounts of agriculture residual. The book is divided into four sections, covering: applications of natural fiber polymer composites design of natural fiber polymer composites composite manufacturing techniques and agriculture waste manufacturing composite material testing methods The first section of the book deals with the application of textile composites in the industry and the properties of the natural fibers, providing an understanding of the history of natural fiber composites as well as an analysis of the different properties of different natural fibers. The second section goes on to explain the textile composites, their classification, different composite manufacturing techniques, and the different pretreatment methods for the natural fibers to be used in composite formation. It also analyzes the composite material design under different types of loading and the mechanism of failure of the natural fiber composite. The effect of the fiber volume fraction of different textile structures is explained. The third section of the book, on composite manufacturing techniques and agriculture waste manufacturing, concerns the natural fiber composite manufacturing techniques, agricultural waste, and the methods of their preparation to be used successfully in the composite, either in the form of fibers particles or nanoparticles. The book then considers the testing methods of the different composite components as well as the final composite materials, giving the principle of the testing standards, either distractive or nondestructive. This book attempts to fill the gap between the role of the textile engineer and the role of the designer of composites from natural fibers. It provides important information on the application of textile composites for textile engineers, materials engineers, and researchers in the area of composite materials.

This book presents selected high-quality research papers submitted to ICNF 2017, the 3rd International Conference on Natural Fibers, which was held in Braga, Portugal, on 21–23 June 2017. It discusses the latest research and developments in the field and covers a wide range of topics related to various aspects of natural-fiber composites, such as production and processing of raw materials, surface modification and functionalization, advanced fibrous structures for composites, nano fibers, experimental characterization, modeling and analysis, design and product development, applications, market potential, and environmental impacts. The book presents the latest research work addressing different approaches and techniques to improve processing, performance, functionalities and cost-effectiveness of natural-fibers composites, in order to increase their applications in different industrial sectors such as automobiles, transportation, construction, and sport. & nbsp;