High-Performance Biocomposite Reinforced by Natural Fibers

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to a growing sensitivity towards environmental protection, as well as to the recent laws against the production pollution of synthetic materials, nowadays, there is great attention given to eco-compatible composite materials consisting of a sustainable or renewable matrix reinforced by natural fibers. Compared to synthetic fibers, natural ones (purposely grown and harvested or recovered from agricultural waste) can combine remarkable mechanical properties with very low greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the use of green or bio-based polymers reinforced by natural fibers (biocomposites) is growing strongly in many industrial fields, particularly in the automotive sector, but also in the civil construction area and in naval production. German carmakers, soon followed by other manufacturers, introduced natural fiber composites for interior and exterior applications—door panels, parcel shelves, seat cushions, dashboard parts, backrests, etc. In the civil construction area, they can substitute metals as steel and aluminum for the manufacturing of beams, building panels, roofing products, autoclaved cement composite, etc. Conversely, for ship building, the adoption of green composites can potentially represent a valid substitute for fiberglass. Fortunately, several types of natural fibers that can be used as reinforcement, such as agave, hemp, flax, kenaf, and many more, are available in abundance in the current market, and the development of new crops are not necessary. In order to improve the mechanical performance of these biocomposites, several authors have proposed particular fiber treatments or, more recently, the introduction of low volume fractions of micro- and/or nano-fillers. However, to date, few works have been devoted to these more recent approaches, as well as to the accurate analysis of their behavior under various loading conditions (fatigue, impact, wear, etc.) and the corresponding ageing under the main environmental agent (temperature, moisture, and ultra-violet light). In addition, their hybridization with synthetical fibers (carbon/glass) or other natural fibers aimed at optimizing specific characteristics such as impact, wear, and aging, need further research works.  

In this Special Issue, modern trends in high-performance biocomposites reinforced by natural fibers, with or without the addition of micro- or nano-fillers, are highlighted and discussed, including their processing, properties, modeling, and applications.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Antonio Pantano
Prof. Dr. Bernardo Zuccarello
Guest Editors

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