Natural fibre composites : materials, processes and properties

The use of natural fibres as reinforcements in composites has grown in importance in recent years. Natural Fibre Composites summarises the wealth of significant recent research in this area.

Chapters in part one introduce and explore the structure, properties, processing, and applications of natural fibre reinforcements, including those made from wood and cellulosic fibres. Part two describes and illustrates the processing of natural fibre composites. Chapters discuss ethical practices in the processing of green composites, manufacturing methods and compression and injection molding techniques for natural fibre composites, and thermoset matrix natural fibre-reinforced composites. Part three highlights and interprets the testing and properties of natural fibre composites including, non-destructive and high strain rate testing. The performance of natural fibre composites is examined under dynamic loading, the response of natural fibre composites to impact damage is appraised, and the response of natural fibre composites in a marine environment is assessed.

Natural Fibre Composites is a technical guide for professionals requiring an understanding of natural fibre composite materials. It offers reviews, applications and evaluations of the subject for researchers and engineers.

Author Notes

Alma Hodzic is professor of Advanced Materials Technologies and Research Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Institue at the University of Sheffield, UK. Robert shanks is Emeritus professor of Polymer Science at the school of applied sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

D. Dai and M. FanR.A. ShanksK-Y. Lee and A. BismarckM.A. Al-MaaDeed and S. LabidiD.S. Le Corre and N. Tucker and M.P. StaigerC. Baillie and E. FeinblattJ. Summerscales and S. GroveY.W. Leong and S. Thitithansarn and K. Yamada and H. HamadaA. Crosky and N. Soatthiyanon and D. Ruys and S. Meatherall and S. PotterF. Sarasini and C. SantulliW. Kim and A. ArgentoH. Md Akil and M.H. ZamriH. Ghasemnejad and A. AboutorabiM. P. Ansell

Contributor Contact details	p. xi
Woodhead Publishing Series in Composites Science and Engineering	p. xv
Part I Natural fibre reinforcements	p. 1
1 Wood fibres as reinforcements in natural fibre composites: structure, properties, processing and applications	p. 3
1.1 Introduction	p. 3
1.2 Wood fibres: Nature and behaviour	p. 5
1.3 Modification of wood fibres for composites	p. 15
1.4 Matrices (binders) of wood fibre Composites	p. 22
1.5 Process techniques of wood fibre composties	p. 27
1.6 Properties of wood fibre composites	p. 32
1.7 Applications of wood fibre composites	p. 34
1.8 Future trends	p. 41
1.9 References	p. 43
2 Chemistry and structure of cellulosic fibres as reinforcements in natural fibre composites	p. 66
2.1 Introduction	p. 66
2.2 Glucose monomer	p. 67
2.3 Glucose biopolymerization	p. 70
2.4 Cellulose structure	p. 71
2.5 Chemical and solubility properties of cellulose	p. 73
2.6 Sources of cellulose	p. 75
2.7 Separation of cellulose	p. 75
2.8 Purification of Cellulose	p. 76
2.9 Cellulose Polymorphism	p. 77
2.10 Chemical Modification of cellulose	p. 78
2.11 Preparation of nano-cellulose	p. 79
2.12 Processing of cellulose	p. 79
2.13 Applications of cellulose fibres	p. 80
2.14 Conclusions	p. 81
2.15 References	p. 81
2.16 Appendix: abbreviations	p. 83
3 Creating hierarchical structures in cellulosic fibre reinforced polymer composites for advanced performance	p. 84
3.1 Introduction	p. 84
3.2 Creating hierarchical structures in (ligno)cellulosic fibre reinforced composite materials	p. 86
3.3 Surface microfibrillation of (ligno)cellulosic fibres	p. 87
3.4 Creating hierarchical structures in renewable composites by incorporating microfibrillated cellulose(MFC) into the matrix	p. 90
3.5 Coating of (ligno)cellulosic fibres with bacterial cellulose	p. 91
3.6 Conclusions and future trends	p. 99
3.7 Acknowledgements	p. 100
3.8 References	p. 100
4 Recycled polymers in natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites	p. 103
4.1 Introduction	p. 103
4.2 Fibre reinforcements in recycled composites	p. 104
4.3 Processes for adding natural fibre reinforcements to composites	p. 108
4.4 Improving the mechanical properties of recycled composites using natural fibre reinforcements	p. 109
4.5 Applications of recycled polymer composites with natural fibre reinforcements	p. 111
4.6 Conclusions and future trends	p. 112
4.7 References	p. 112
4.8 Appendix: abbreviations	p. 114
5 Electrospun cellulosic fibre-reinforced composite materials	p. 115
5.1 Introduction	p. 115
5.2 Electrospinning of non-derivatised and derivatised cellulosic fibres	p. 118
5.3 Electrospun cellulosic fibres via polymer blends	p. 135
5.4 Electrospun nanocomposite fibres	p. 138
5.5 Mechanical properties of electrospun fibres and mats	p. 146
5.6 Cellulose nanofibre-reinforced polymer composites	p. 147
5.7 Future trends	p. 149
5.8 References	p. 150
Part II Processing of natural fibre composites	p. 159
6 Ethical practices in the processing of green composites	p. 161
6.1 Introduction	p. 161
6.2 Social impact and ethical practice	p. 162
6.3 Case study: Waste for Life waste management model	p. 164
6.4 Conclusions	p. 172
6.5 References	p. 173
7 Manufacturing methods for natural fibre composites	p. 176
7.1 Introduction	p. 176
7.2 Fibre reinforcements	p. 177
7.3 Reinforcement forms	p. 180
7.4 Bio-based polymer matrices	p. 183
7.5 Composites manufacturing processes	p. 187
7.6 Key parameters for successful processing of natural fibre composites	p. 189
7.7 Manufacturing techniques for natural fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites	p. 201
7.8 Case studies: automotive, building and construction, and marine applications	p. 204
7.9 Conclusions	p. 205
7.10 References	p. 205
8 Compression and injection molding techinques for natural fiber composites	p. 216
8.1 Introduction	p. 216
8.2 Emerging compression and injection molding technologies in the production of natural fiber composites	p. 218
8.3 Processing natural fiber composites at high temperatures	p. 227
8.4 Conclusions	p. 229
8.5 References	p. 230
9 Thermoset matrix natural fibre-reinforced composites	p. 233
9.1 Introduction	p. 233
9.2 Natural fibres used in thermoset matrix composites	p. 234
9.3 Thermoset matrix types	p. 234
9.4 Fabrication of thermoset matrix composites	p. 238
9.5 Mechanical properties of synthetic resin composites	p. 240
9.6 Bioderived resin composites	p. 258
9.7 Applications of thermoset matrix natural fibre composites	p. 263
9.8 Future trends	p. 265
9.9 Soucres of further information and advice	p. 265
9.10 References	p. 265
Part III Testing and properties	p. 271
10 Non-destructive testing (NDT) of natural fibre composites: acoustic emission technique	p. 273
10.1 Introduction	p. 273
10.2 Using the acoustic emission (AE) technique in practice	p. 279
10.3 Assessing reSults	p. 285
10.4 Applications of AE	p. 287
10.5 Future trends	p. 295
10.6 Conclusions	p. 296
10.7 Sources of further information and advice	p. 296
10.8 References	p. 297
11 High strain rate testing of natural fiber composites	p. 303
11.1 Introduction	p. 303
11.2 Materials	p. 305
11.3 Test methods	p. 306
11.4 Results and discussion	p. 308
11.5 Applications and future trends	p. 314
11.6 Acknowledgment	p. 317
11.7 References	p. 318
12 Performance of nature fiber composites under dynamic loading	p. 323
12.1 Introduction	p. 323
12.21 Natural fibers and natural fiber composites	p. 325
12.3 Dynamic properties of natural fiber composites	p. 326
12.4 Dynamic mechanical testing of natural fiber composites	p. 327
12.5 Testing in practice: the example of pultruded natural fiber reinforced composites	p. 330
12.6 Dynamic testing of composites	p. 331
12.7 Performance of natural fiber reinforced composites under dynamic loading	p. 335
12.8 Future trends	p. 341
12.9 Acknowledge	p. 341
12.10 References	p. 341
13 The response of natural fibre composites to impact damage: a case study	p. 345
13.1 Introduction	p. 345
13.2 Mechanical characterization	p. 348
13.3 Specimen preparation	p. 349
13.4 Charpy impact test	p. 353
13.5 Experimental results	p. 354
13.6 Conclusion	p. 362
13.7 References	p. 363
14 Natural fibre composites in a marine environment	p. 365
14.1 Introduction	p. 365
14.2 Properties and environmental impacts of natural versus synthetic fibres	p. 366
14.3 Natural fibre composites (NFCs) and moisture uptake	p. 369
14.4 Geometrical considerations for plant fibres in NFCs	p. 370
14.5 Marine applications of plant fibre composites	p. 371
14.6 Conclusion and future trends	p. 372
14.7 Sources of further information and advice	p. 372
14.8 References	p. 373
Index	p. 375

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