Techniques to Enhance Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Fiber Epoxy Composites- a Review
摘要
The domain of synthetic fiber composites has been extensively considered for generating composites for aerospace, automotive, construction and military structures such as aircraft, military bridges, projectiles, etc. However, because of their high material and manufacturing costs, glass and carbon fiber composites are not found to be economically feasible for developing lightweight structures. In addition, these composites are non-renewable, non-recyclable and not biodegradable. Therefore, scientists are exploring the possibility of making green composites using natural fibers (NFs) instead of advanced fibers in order to circumvent these challenges. In comparison to synthetic fiber composites, natural fiber composites are stronger, lighter, and better for the environment. Kenaf fiber, one of the natural fibers, could potentially supplant synthetic fibers. Kenaf is an alternate solution to glass fiber composites due to the fast growth of the kenaf plant in comparison to plants that produce other kinds of natural fibers; fibers’ availability is higher, and the final composite's cost will be low. Natural fibers are incompatible with polymer matrices and have a higher moisture absorption percentage, which limits their applications. Fiber undergo chemical treatment and/or filler addition to resolve these issues. The review paper discusses the various techniques employed for enhancing the mechanical properties of kenaf fiber reinforced composites (KFRCs). Numerous techniques are covered, including filler addition, fiber treatment, hybridization, and fabrication methods. Researchers are continuing to work on enhancing the properties of high performance kenaf fiber composites and reducing their cost.