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Polymers
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Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials
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Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Fibers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 8817

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sunil Kumar Ramamoorthy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 501 90 Borås, Sweden
Interests: biocomposites; bio-based polymers; natural fiber composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue intends to provide a platform for dialogue about the latest innovations in the use of bio-based materials. The continuous development in the field of bio-based materials has resulted in the use of several natural fibers. Research on green materials is currently widespread, which is evident through numerous research undertakings globally resulting in a large number of original publications. In this Special Issue, researchers from both academia and industry are invited to submit their latest studies on natural fiber-based green materials.

The scope of this Special Issue includes research on natural fibers, the production of natural fiber composites, interfacial studies between natural fibers and polymers and the characterization of these fibers and their composites (physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal and morphological properties).

Dr. Sunil Kumar Ramamoorthy
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • jute
  • sisal
  • flax
  • hemp
  • kenaf
  • cellulose

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4106 KiB  
Article
An Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Flax/Basalt Epoxy Hybrid Composites from a Sustainability Perspective
by Martina Panico, Ersilia Cozzolino, Ilaria Papa, Iman Taha and Valentina Lopresto
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2839; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192839 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1158
Abstract
Currently, sustainability plays a central role in the response to global challenges, strongly influencing decisions in various sectors. From this perspective, global efforts to explore inventive and eco-friendly solutions to address the demands of industrialization and large-scale production are being made. Bio-based composites [...] Read more.
Currently, sustainability plays a central role in the response to global challenges, strongly influencing decisions in various sectors. From this perspective, global efforts to explore inventive and eco-friendly solutions to address the demands of industrialization and large-scale production are being made. Bio-based composites needed for lightweight applications benefit from the integration of natural fibers, due to their lower specific weight compared to synthetic fibers, contributing to the overall reduction in the weight of such structures without compromising the mechanical performance. Nevertheless, challenges arise when using natural fibers in composite laminates and hybridization seems to be a solution. However, there is still a lack of knowledge in the literature regarding the strategies and possibilities for reducing laminate thickness, without sacrificing the mechanical performance. This work aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the possibility of reducing the laminate thickness in hybrid flax/basalt composites made of plies, organized in the same stacking sequence, through only varying their number. Tensile, Charpy, flexural, and drop-weight tests were carried out for the mechanical characterization of the composites. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of achieving thinner hybrid composites, thus contributing to sustainability, while still having acceptable mechanical properties for structural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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14 pages, 4277 KiB  
Article
Nanocellulose/Nanoporous Silicon Composite Films as a Drug Delivery System
by Karla A. Garrido-Miranda, Héctor Pesenti, Angel Contreras, Judith Vergara-Figueroa, Gonzalo Recio-Sánchez, Dalton Chumpitaz, Silvia Ponce and Jacobo Hernandez-Montelongo
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142055 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1264
Abstract
Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from “Bolaina blanca” (Guazuma crinita) [...] Read more.
Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from “Bolaina blanca” (Guazuma crinita) and combined with nanoporous silicon microparticles (nPSi) in concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1.0% (w/v), using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binding agent to create NC/nPSi composite films for drug delivery systems. The physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties and drug release capabilities were also evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as an antibacterial drug model. Antibacterial assays were conducted against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The results show that NC/nPSi composites with 1% nPSi increased the T50% by 10 °C and enhanced mechanical properties, such as a 70% increase in the elastic modulus and a 372% increase in elongation, compared to NC films. Additionally, MB released from NC/nPSi composites effectively inhibited the growth of both bacteria. It was also observed that the diffusion coefficients were inversely proportional to the % nPSi. These findings suggest that this novel NC/nPSi-based material can serve as an effective controlled drug release system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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23 pages, 10832 KiB  
Article
Influence of the Manufacturing Method (3D Printing and Injection Molding) on Water Absorption and Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polymer Composites Based on Poly(lactic acid)
by Paul Forbid Mukoroh, Fathi Gouda, Mikael Skrifvars and Sunil Kumar Ramamoorthy
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1619; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121619 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
The manufacturing method influences the properties of the produced components. This work investigates the influence of manufacturing methods, such as fused deposition modeling (3D printing) and injection molding, on the water absorption and mechanical and thermal properties of the specimens produced from neat [...] Read more.
The manufacturing method influences the properties of the produced components. This work investigates the influence of manufacturing methods, such as fused deposition modeling (3D printing) and injection molding, on the water absorption and mechanical and thermal properties of the specimens produced from neat bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer and poly(lactic acid)/wood composites. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) acts as the reference material due to its low water absorption and good functional properties. The printing layer thickness is one of the factors that affects the properties of a 3D-printed specimen. The investigation includes two different layer thicknesses (0.2 mm and 0.3 mm) while maintaining uniform overall thickness of the specimens across two manufacturing methods. 3D-printed specimens absorb significantly higher amounts of water than the injection-molded specimens, and the increase in the layer thickness of the 3D-printed specimens contributes to further increased water absorption. However, the swelling due to water absorption in 3D-printed specimens decreases upon increased layer thickness. The tensile, flexural, and impact properties of all of the specimens decrease after water absorption, while the properties improve upon decreasing the layer thickness. Higher porosity upon increasing the layer thickness is the predominant factor. The results from dynamic mechanical analysis and microscopy validate the outcomes. The results from this experimental study highlight the limitations of additive manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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15 pages, 5768 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Waste Nicotiana rustica L. (Tobacco) Fiber Having a Potential in Textile and Composite Applications
by Sabih Ovalı
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081117 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Nicotiana rustica L. (NRL) is a type of tobacco plant, and its stalk waste is a potential lignocellulosic source for obtaining cellulose fibers freely available in nature. However, they are left in fields after harvesting, and this study provides a green and sustainable [...] Read more.
Nicotiana rustica L. (NRL) is a type of tobacco plant, and its stalk waste is a potential lignocellulosic source for obtaining cellulose fibers freely available in nature. However, they are left in fields after harvesting, and this study provides a green and sustainable method to reuse tobacco waste. Fiber was obtained by retting the plant stalks in water and decomposing them naturally in three weeks. NRL fiber was characterized by comparing it with known bast fibers, and tests were applied to examine its physical, chemical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties. With its high cellulose content (56.6 wt%), NRL fiber had a high tensile strength (113.4 MPa) and a good crystallinity index (70%) that helped it to bond with other fibers in the composite matrix. Furthermore, the fiber is an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers with a diameter of 36.88 μm and low density (1.5 g/cm3). The NRL fiber was found to have a semi-crystalline structure and large crystalline size, which makes it hydrophobic. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that it can be durable (353.9 °C) in higher temperatures than the polymerization temperature. As a result, it can be concluded that NRL fiber has the potential to be used as a reinforcement in polymer composites, technical textiles, and agricultural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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16 pages, 3897 KiB  
Article
Characterisation of Sodium Acetate Treatment on Acacia pennata Natural Fibres
by Kasirajan Rajam Jaya Sheeba, Retnam Krishna Priya, Krishna Prakash Arunachalam, Siva Avudaiappan, Nelson Maureira-Carsalade and Ángel Roco-Videla
Polymers 2023, 15(9), 1996; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15091996 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
The present study concerns the physico-chemical, structural, mechanical and thermal characterization of Acacia pennata, a natural and almost inexpensive fibre, as a potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The effect of treating the fibre with sodium acetate to increase its qualities has been seen [...] Read more.
The present study concerns the physico-chemical, structural, mechanical and thermal characterization of Acacia pennata, a natural and almost inexpensive fibre, as a potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The effect of treating the fibre with sodium acetate to increase its qualities has been seen through the use of thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mechanical property tester, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). According to XRD analysis, the elimination of lignin and wax-like impurities resulted in an increase in the AP fibre’s crystalline index (79.73%). The fibre’s thermal stability was also discovered to be 365 °C. Tensile strength (557.58 MPa) and elongation at break both increased by 2.9% after treatment with sodium acetate. The surface nature and quality of AP fibres improved after sodium acetate treatment. It was confirmed by the reduction of chemical compositions (such as hemicellulose, lignin and pectin). Given its density, the fibre can be suggested as a reinforcement in polymer composites for light-weight applications because its lightweight property will be more useful for composite manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Based Green Materials)
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