Table 2 The merits and demerits of plant fibres for use in polymer biocomposites, reprinted with permission from [27]. Copyright © 2023 Elsevier
From: A perspective on biodegradable polymer biocomposites - from processing to degradation
Positive aspects | Concerns |
|---|---|
Highly abundant | Lower strength compared to synthetic fibres in some cases |
Low specific weight | Higher moisture absorption (hydrophilic) |
Low cost | Wettability |
Renewable resource | Swelling |
Biodegradable | Poor fire resistance |
Recyclable | Concerns over durability |
Lower environmental impact during production? (to be assessed) | Can be odours during degradation |
No or minimal residues when incinerated | Low thermal resistance (~ 200 °C) |
No skin irritations | Restricted maximum processing temperature (~ 200 °C) -also limits polymer matrix choice |
Corrosion resistance | Poor microbial resistance |
Acoustic and thermal insulation | Tendency to agglomerate (hydrogen bonding between fibres) |
Low wear | Non-standard processing and post-processing |
Easy and safe handling | Inherent variability (season, site, variety etc.) – including of quality |
Non-toxic | Supply chain issues |
CO2 cycling | Â |