What is it about?
Conventional and unconventional chemical treatment methods of natural fibres for sustainable biocomposites
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Why is it important?
Natural fibres could be used as one of the raw materials for the production of engineering materials. They have the advantage of low density, light weight, biodegrability and the capacity to reprocess to a certain extent. There are certain limitations of such fibres when formed composites with synthetic polymers like high degree of moisture absorption, and lack of affinity between fiber and the matrix. The presence of polar components like hemicellulose and lignin content in the fibres are the reason for these materials to be hydrophilic. This issue has been addressed by treating fiber surface with variety of chemical reagents which is reported to improve mechanical and adhesion property between fiber and the matrix. Chemical treatments can be based on reactions involving esterification methods like acetylation and benzylation, graft polymerization methods like treatments with triazine, isocyanates and maleic anhydride, silane coupling agents, other treatments include alkali, acrylation and acrylonitrile, permanganate, peroxide treatments and also steric acid, sodium chloride and oleoyl chlorite. Surface modification of fibres reduces its moisture absorption tendency and improves their mechanical properties thereby increasing durability of the composites.
Perspectives
Natural fibres can be utilized to augment the use of single use synthetic materials in the form of biodegradable materials and bio-composites. Their main limitation is reduced mechanical properties with water absorption tendencies and therefore not easily replaceable for alternative synthetic polymeric materials. This limitation is partially addressed by various chemical treatment methods to reduce the components which are present on fiber surface. When the different properties of surface modified natural fibers and untreated fibers were compared the surface modified fibers reported to show superior tensile properties, impact strength properties, thermal stability, flexural properties and reduced water absorption properties. The inherent properties and also the constituents of plant fibers differ and therefore optimization of reagent and process parameters are key to achieve consistent results. The development and research in treating the fibers and altering their properties is an active area to work and further improvement is necessary. This review expected to provide a brief overview of various treatment options available for the beginners of the field so as to have idea on the options and scope for selecting the reagents.
Dr Subrahmanya Bhat K
Manipal Institute Of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Conventional and unconventional chemical treatment methods of natural fibres for sustainable biocomposites, Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action, January 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.scca.2023.100034.
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