Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites

Natural/Biofiber composites are emerging as a viable alternative to glass fiber composites, particularly in automotive, packaging, building, and consumer product industries, and becoming one of the fastest growing additives for thermoplastics. Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites provides a clear understanding of the present state and the growing utility of biocomposites. Including contributions from experts on biobased materials, the book defines biocomposites and discusses the combination of fibers such as flax, jute, bamboo, pineapple leaf and oil palm fibers, kenaf, and industrial hemp with polymer matrices from both non-renewable and renewable resources. The authors also discuss the chemical nature, testing, biological synthesis, and properties of natural fibers in comparison to traditional materials as well as their cumulative properties when combined with various polymers to produce composite materials that are competitive with synthetic composites. Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites explains the rise of petrochemical and plastic products, the problems associated in their disposal, and how biopolymers offer a realistic solution to these problems. It analyzes the varying degrees biodegradability in biobased polymers depending on their composition and structure as well as the environment in which they are placed. Subsequent chapters discuss the advantages and applications of biodegradable polymers derived from starch and cellulose, soybeans, and even from renewable resources and petroleum. The authors conclude with recent trends and opportunities for the future use of biocomposites as alternatives to petroleum-based composites. The only source available today that focuses on biobased materials, Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites integrates the principles of sustainability, industrial ecology, eco-efficiency, and green chemistry and engineering into the development of the next generation of materials, products, and processes.

Manjusri Misra, Amar K. Mohanty, Lawrence T. Drzal

Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites: An Introduction; Plant Fibers as Reinforcement for Green Composites; Processing of Bast Fiber Plants for Industrial Application; Recent Developments in Retting and Measurement of Fiber Quality in Natural Fibers: Pro and Cons; Alternative Low-Cost Biomass for the Biocomposites Industry; Fiber-Matrix Adhesion in Natural Fiber Composites; Natural Fiber Composites in Automotive Applications; Natural Fiber Composites for Building Applications; Thermoset Biocomposites; Thermoplastic Wood Fiber Composites; Bamboo-Based Ecocomposites and Their Potential Applications; Oil Palm Fiber-Thermoplastic Composites; Natural Fiber-Rubber Composites and Their Applications; Straw-Based Biomass and Biocomposites; Sorona®Polymer: Present Status and Future Perspectives; Polylactic Acid Technology; Polylactide-Based Biocomposites; Bacterial Polyester-Based Biocomposites: A Review; Cellulose Fiber-Reinforced Cellulose Esters:  Biocomposites for the Future; Starch Polymers: Chemistry, Engineering, and Novel Products; Lignin-Based Polymer Blends and Biocomposite Materials; Soy Protein-Based Plastics, Blends, and Composites; Synthesis, Properties, and Potential Applications of Novel Thermosetting Biopolymers from Soybean and Other Natural Oils; Houses Using Soy Oil and Natural Fibers Biocomposites; Biobased Polyurethanes and Their Composites: Present Status and Future Perspective; Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites; How Sustainable Are Biopolymers and Biobased Products? The Hope, the Doubts, and the Reality; Index