Green biocomposites for structural applications

Abstract

The quest for the development of innovative materials having zero impact with high performance at affordable costs to meet the basic human and society demands results a dynamic composite materials. Green or biocomposites regarded as a high-performance or ‘advanced’ fourth generation engineered composite materials that are comparatively better and attractive in terms of environmentally friendly, composability and complete degradability of end use products. The reinforcement of renewable and environment-friendly plant based ‘lignocellulosic’ fibers with bio-based polymeric matrix (plastics) is the only ways to fabricate the green composites or to make them fully greener materials. Green composites offer a significant environmental key for both food and non-food market including the aerospace, automotive, decking and for others variety of structural applications over the past decades because of their relatively higher specific modulus and strength compared to metals. Developed bio-material undoubtedly delivers greater impact on the world economy by developing energy saving products for the improvement of life quality. Present study is designed to deliver an outline of the comprehensive recent research studies and works reported on sustainable “green” friendly biocomposites, focusing the concern on biopolymers, natural fibers, composite processing and their diverse structural applications. Currently, green composites considered as one of the emerging innovative products in materials and polymer composite science to expand the commercial application in the sectors ranging from packaging to the constructional industry.