Chemical Treatment of Reinforced Fibers Used for Bio Composite: A Review

Natural fibers reinforced polymer composites are extensively used to maintain ecological balance due to their bio-degradable nature. Natural fibers have lower weight, high strength, and biodegradable nature. Various chemical treatments are performed on natural fibers before reinforcement in composite to enhance their properties. Surface characteristics of natural fiber are playing the important role to obtained maximum adhesion between natural fiber and polymer matrix. When the natural fiber’s surface holds substantial wax content, impurities, and other oily content, then it will have a poor level of adhesion with the matrix. Due to lacking of dryness and roughness of natural fibers, it losses the adhesion forces. While the natural fiber’s surface is clean, non-oily, dry, and rough surface, it will positively have better adhesion property with the polymer matrix. Tensile properties of fiber improve due to brittle and ductile behaviors of fibers and reinforcements of natural fibers. Various chemical treatments are alkali treatment, silane treatment, acetylation, benzoylation, acylation, maleated coupling agents, isocyanates, permanganate, sodium bicarbonate treatment, sodium chlorite treatment, enzyme peroxide treatment, ozone treatment, etc. This paper discussed in depth knowledge on chemical treatment of natural fibers and the effect of chemical treatment on properties of developed natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites.