Advances in Natural Fibers: Modification, Properties and Applications
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecular Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 14
Editors
Interests: natural fibers; agricultural wastes; fire behavior; flame retardants; composites; polymeric materials; polymer blends; biorefinery; chemical and physical grafting; biopolymers; bio-binders; insulators; conductive materials; durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: fire behavior; flame retardants; degradation; polymeric materials; fire safety engineering; polymers; materials chemistry; polymer blends; pyrolysis; ionizing radiation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Special Issue, titled “Advances in Natural Fibers: Modification, Properties and Applications”, will discuss upcoming research developments and emerging trends in the natural fiber development industry. In the face of escalating environmental challenges and the urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil-based resources, natural fibers as sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable alternatives to fossil-based products will have a high profile. This Special Issue covers plant-based fibers, like lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural and forestry residues, as well as animal-based fibers, like wool, silk, and other protein-based fibers. These fibers give rise to various structural, mechanical, and functional properties; their mixed or hybrid applications open up advanced material design possibilities. This Special Issue focuses on the manipulation of natural fibers to improve their functionality and extend their application potential. Efforts involving chemical, physical, and physicochemical altering processes, such as pyrolysis for biochar production, grafting, surface treatments, and innovative functionalization, are especially welcome. This kind of modification is critical for modifying fiber properties, such as mechanical strength, thermal stability, durability, and interfacial compatibility. In addition, this Special Issue will outline the dependence between how the processing is carried out, structural characteristics, and materials obtained. Novel pre-treatment methods can help optimize the morphology and chemical composition of natural fibers under a diverse array of operating conditions and increase the material’s properties. Regarding applications, this Special Issue welcomes research reports on the development of modified natural fibers for high-performance and functional materials. These could include UV protection, flame retardancy, hydrophobic and barrier materials, water treatment, electrical dissipative characteristics, energy systems, and improved interfacial adhesion in composites, to name but a few. In conclusion, this Special Issue aims to demonstrate how progress on the adaptation and the characterization of natural fibers can translate into the design of low-cost, high-value, and sustainable materials contributing to the move towards a circular and bio-based economy.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Modification and functionalization of natural fibers (chemical, physical, and physicochemical approaches);
- Surface treatments and grafting techniques for enhanced fiber performance;
- Lignocellulosic fibers: extraction, characterization, and processing;
- Animal-based fibers (wool, silk, keratin): properties and innovative applications;
- Hybrid materials combining plant and animal fibers;
- Advanced pre-treatment methods for natural fibers (biological, chemical, and mechanical);
- Structure–property relationships in natural fiber-based materials;
- Mechanical, thermal, and durability properties of modified fibers;
- Interfacial adhesion and compatibility in fiber-reinforced composites;
- Functional properties (UV resistance, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, and antibacterial activity);
- Natural fibers for water treatment and environmental remediation;
- Recycling, reuse, and circular economy approaches for fiber-based materials;
- Industrial applications (automotive, construction, packaging, textiles, and biomedical).
Dr. Roland El Hage
Dr. Rodolphe Sonnier
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- natural fibers
- lignocellulosic biomass
- animal fibers
- fiber modification
- surface functionalization
- bio-based materials
- polymer composites
- sustainable materials
- structure–property relationships
- circular economy
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