REVIEW ON POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Mechanical Engineering

This study focuses on the potential use of natural fibers in composite materials, their availability, processing features, mechanical and physical properties, and some of their applications in India. Composite materials consist of two or more constituent materials, the fibre and the matrix. Fibre reinforced polymer composites are becoming very popular and replacing conventional materials nowadays, because of their excellent properties suitable for various applications. The properties of fibre reinforced polymer composites are comparable to most conventional materials like metallic materials. Numbers of papers have been published in the field of high strength composites made up of glass fibres, carbon fibres, Kevlar fibres and carbon nanotubes. However, their utilizations are affected by their high cost, recyclability and biodegradability issues. The concern regarding environmental policies leads researchers to focus on natural fibre based composites. Natural fibre reinforced eco-friendly composites are becoming an attractive alternative for synthetic materials. Natural fibres are cheaper in cost, environment-friendly, renewable and bio-degradable. The properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites are determined by problems like poor bonding, poor wettability, and degradation at the fibre-matrix interface and the damage of the fibre during the manufacturing process.

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