Potential of Wood Fibre Reinforced Polymeric Composites: An Overview
Abstract
Wood has for quite some time been utilized by plastics industry as inexpensive reinforcement or filler to increase strength and stiffness of polymer composites and to decrease raw material expenses too. The shift from petroleum based fibres to plant fibres as reinforcements or fillers in thermosets or thermoplastics is due to relatively low cost, low density, eco-efficient, biodegradability and renewability. This paper provides an overview on the progress made in the area of wood fibre as a material for bio-composites, in terms of source, type, structure and composition. Consequently, this article discusses modification methods as well as most regular matrices utilized in wood fibre plastic composites from both petroleum based and bio-based sources. Properties such as mechanical behaviour, water absorption characteristics and thermal decomposition were reviewed. Hybridization of wood fibre reinforced composites and, processing technologies and application were also discussed. Finally, the review discusses current advances and future trends of wood fibre bio-composites as well as crucial issues that should be tended to.
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