editorial natural fiber reinforced polymer compositeseditorial natural fiber reinforced polymer...

EditorialNatural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Md. Saiful Islam,1 Adriana Kovalcik,2 Mahbub Hasan,3 and Vijay Kumar Thakur4

1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia2Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria3Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology,Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh4School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, P.O. Box 642920, Pullman, WA 99164-290, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to Md. Saiful Islam; [email protected] Adriana Kovalcik; [email protected]

Received 20 August 2015; Accepted 20 August 2015

Copyright © 2015 Md. Saiful Islam et al.This is an open access article distributed under theCreativeCommonsAttribution License,which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The use of natural fibers as a reinforcement for various mate-rials was recorded already in ancient Egypt; however, theirrediscovery can be dated to the beginning of 20th century.Current special issue is devoted to the role of natural fibers asreinforcements for various biodegradable and nonbiodegrad-able polymer matrices. The application of natural fillers canbe seen as an approach to adjust material performance ofpolymer composites supposing that filler/matrix interactionswill be optimized and a hygroscopicity of natural fillers will behindered. This special issue contains 16 papers that highlighta number of reasons for applications of natural fillers inpolymer composites. In recent years the discussion abouta balance in carbon footprint increased an attractivenessof natural fibers/fillers derived from agricultural sourcespredominantly from one-year plants.

One of the reasons given for using of fibers from one-year plants can be a quicker and economically favorableproduction of composites based on environmentally friendly,abundant renewable materials with short growth cycles. Alarge variety of natural fibers/fillers are available worldwide,although their chemical and physical nonuniformity in com-parison with synthetic fibers often requires an inclusionof pretreatment steps as well as a precise characterizationbefore their applications. S. Shahinur et al. in the paper“Characterization on the Properties of Jute Fiber at DifferentPortions” reported that physicomechanical properties of JuteFibers vary within one batch, depending on a selected

cut position (lower part, middle part, and top of 250mmlong fibers). Md. M. Rahman et al. in the paper “Synthesisof Cotton from Tossa Jute Fiber and Comparison withOriginal Cotton” studied properties of synthesized cottonfrom Tossa Jute Fiber using the processing steps such asextraction in water, disintegration, drying, dewaxing, anddelignification. This work shows that chemical structureand thermal stability of cotton from Tossa Jute Fibers arecomparable with cotton fibers derived from cotton plant. N.Bidin et al. in the paper “Suitability of Aquatic Plant Fibersfor Handmade Papermaking” advised aquatic plants such asScirpus grossus, Cyperus rotundus, and Typha angustifolia assuitable materials for pulp and paper industry. B. Tisseratet al. in the paper “Ionic Liquid-Facilitated Preparationof Lignocellulosic Composites” introduced EMIMAc (ionicliquid) in the pretreatment step of lignocellulosic material(mixture of cotton and steam exploded wood) and variousreinforcement fabrics to enhance the existing properties(especially mechanical) of polymer composites procuredfrom renewable materials.

Another purpose of using natural filler can be a modifi-cation of rheological and mechanical properties of polymercomposites without an increase of composites weight andcosts. Papers within this issue address utilization of naturalfibers as reinforcements for thermosets as well as thermo-plastics. S. D. Salman et al. in the paper “Physical, Mechan-ical, and Morphological Properties of Woven Kenaf/Polymer

Hindawi Publishing CorporationInternational Journal of Polymer ScienceVolume 2015, Article ID 813568, 2 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/813568

2 International Journal of Polymer Science

Composites Produced Using a Vacuum Infusion Technique”reinforced epoxy resins with plain woven kenaf fabric withfiber content of 35 wt.% and detected superior mechanicalproperties of composites cut in 0∘/90∘ orientation.

V. A. Escocio et al. in the paper “Rheological Behaviourof Renewable Polyethylene (HDPE) Composites and SpongeGourd (Luffa cylindrica) Residue” investigated effect ofsponge gourd (cellulosic filler) in the concentration of 10–40wt.% on rheological properties of high density polyethy-lene derived from sugarcane ethanol. This work showsthat higher reinforcement of HDPE can be reached by anincorporation of cellulosic filler in the concentration above20wt.% but only with creations of agglomerates due to thelow filler/matrix adhesion. The efficiency of fique fibres asa reinforcement low density polyethylene (LDPE) recycledfrom Tetra Pak was tested in the work of Hidalgo-Salazaret al. “Influence of Incorporation of Natural Fibers on thePhysical, Mechanical, andThermal Properties of CompositesLDPE-Al Reinforced with Fique Fibers.” J. S. Won et al.in the paper “Mechanical Properties and Biodegradabil-ity of the Kenaf/Soy Protein Isolate-PVA Biocomposites”modified mechanical properties and biodegradability of soyprotein isolate/poly(vinyl alcohol) by an incorporation ofkenaf nonwoven fabric. Effects of natural filler such as ricehusk and pineapple leaves fibers on thermal, morphological,and mechanical properties of composites based on vari-ous polymer matrices such as polyethylene, polypropylene,polyvinylchloride, and poly(lactic acid) were reviewed inthe works of R. Arjmandi et al. “Rice Husk Filled PolymerComposites” and M. Asim et al. “A Review on PineappleLeaves Fibre and Its Composites.” A fibre/polymer interfacialadhesionwas highlighted as amain factor that influences finalproperties of natural fiber/polymer composites.

For practical uses of composites containing hygroscopicnatural fibers it is very important to determine their mechan-ical properties under humid conditions to assess effect ofmoisture on their behavior. The issue of hygrothermal agingof kenaf fibers/polypropylene composites is addressed inthe work of W. M. Haniffah et al. “Kenaf Fibre ReinforcedPolypropylene Composites: Effect of Cyclic Immersion onTensile Properties.” E. Munoz and J. A. Garcia-Manriquein the paper “Water Absorption Behavior and Its Effecton the Mechanical Properties of Flax Fibre ReinforcedBioepoxy Composites” reported that composites based onbiobased epoxy resin (SUPER SAP CLR Epoxy, EntropyResins, USA) and 40 or 55wt.% of flax fiber woven fabricprocessed by resin transfer moulding process (RTM) inspite of the natural hygroscopicity of flax fibers can be analternative to composites based on petroleum-based resinsand synthetic fibers. F. J. Aranda-Garcıa et al. in the paper“Water Absorption andThermomechanical Characterizationof Extruded Starch/Poly(lactic acid)/Agave Bagasse FiberBioplastic Composites” improved mechanical properties ofthermoplastic starch by incorporation of agave bagasse fibersand/or poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Moreover, water absorptionof thermoplastic starch/agave bagasse fibers/PLA compositeswas in this formulation reduced. Effects of acetylation on alfafibers and grafting of polypropylene (PP) with maleic anhy-dride on the final interfacial compatibility and hydrothermal

stability of alfa fibers/PP composites were studied by N.Hamour et al. in the paper “Effects of MAPP Compatibiliza-tion and Acetylation Treatment Followed by HydrothermalAging on Polypropylene-Alfa Fiber Composites.”

The incorporation of natural fibers/filler requires a selec-tion and a modification of common polymer processingmethods and procedures to reach optimal physicomechanicalproperties of composites. M. D. Azaman et al. in the paper“Numerical Simulation Analysis of Unfilled and Filled Rein-forcedPolypropylene onThin-Walled Parts FormedUsing theInjection-Moulding Process” identified and compared resid-ual stresses, volumetric shrinkages, and warpage in injectedmoulded thin-walled polypropylene specimens reinforcedwith 50wt.% wood filler and 10wt.% glass fibers. Z. Hutyrovaet al. in the paper “Study of Surface Roughness of MachinedPolymer Composite Material” investigated topography andsurface properties of extruded wood fibers/HDPE compos-ites and announced a presence of microcracks located oncontacts between wood particles and polymer matrix.

This special issue provides up-to-date investigation ofnatural fibers as a source of renewable and biodegradablematerial available for use as reinforcements for polymers.Hopefully, this special issue will be beneficial to manyscientists and move their research a small step forward.

Md. Saiful IslamAdriana KovalcikMahbub Hasan

Vijay Kumar Thakur

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