Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Preparation, Structure and Properties

Dear Colleagues,

To target the global need of  achieving sustainability in the product design and development in various engineering applications motives the material researchers to explore renewable resources as raw material. Consequently, the existence of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites expanded its applications to larger scale, without sacrificing the fundamental requirements of the materials. The characteristics of several natural plant species were explored for their fiber extraction as raw material for the production of natural fiber-reinforced composites. Since all the naturally available fibers are possessing its unique characteristics based on its growing conditions and atmosphere which can interact differently with the counter part of the polymeric system. Hence, it is mandatory to identify the new type of reinforcement from different part of the natural resources to explore its suitability as reinforcement element.  However, to enhance the performance of natural reinforcement is still required further researching to the elevated level. Accordingly, different processing methods like physical, chemical, and biological treatment techniques were employed to modify the fiber surface.  All these treatments can lead to the changes in the fiber surface texture of the natural fibers and in turn exhibit better interfacial bonding with the polymer matrix. The physical treatment results in improved mechanical interlocking of the fiber to the matrix, the chemical treatment includes alkali, acid, acylation and acrylonitrile grafting, reduces the hydrophilic tendency of the fiber and improves the binding property of the fiber with the matrix. Similarly, preparation of natural fibers in the form of fabrics and to make the hybrid yarn for the production of hybrid composites can also uplift the scope of application of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. In the same way considering the ecofriendly aspects, waste management, recycling, and life cycle assessment, the combination of natural fibers and biopolymers extracted from the renewable resources can provide different insight in the aspects of fabrication and testing to obtain the better properties. Considering all the above aspects, this special issue is mainly focused on publishing the articles with the combination of partially biodegradable and fully biodegradable composite materials to explore the following properties, like

• Mechanical properties such as tensile flexural and impact
• Dynamic mechanical properties
• Thermal properties like TGA, DSC, thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient
• Low velocity impact
• Tribological properties
• Free vibration and damping
• Fire resistant property
• Gas permeability

Dr. Rajini Nagarajan
Dr. Sivaranjana Paramasivan
Guest Editors

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• mechanical properties such as tensile flexural and impact
• dynamic mechanical properties
• thermal properties like TGA, DSC, thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient
• low velocity impact
• tribological properties
• free vibration and damping
• fire resistant property
• gas permeability