Mechanical performance and durability attributes of biodegradable natural fibre-reinforced composites—a review

Abstract With the rising awareness about the impact of excessive urbanization on the environment, alternative and more eco-friendly materials such as natural fibre-reinforced composites (NFRCs), which have lower embodied energy, can be considered in modern application ranging from construction housing to urban infrastructures in order to promote the concept of sustainable development. One of the current challenges faced by material engineers is to develop NFRCs with optimized durability performance which correspond to high mechanical attributes during their service lifetime while possessing satisfactory degradability trait in the disposal phase. This proposed review study principally covered the state-of-the-art progress made in the development of sustainable composite material such as advanced and biodegradable NFRC. In the first section, the review covered key aspects of NFRC fabrication including fibres and matrix selection, property-enhancing treatment for fibres and influence of nanostructures in biodegradable composites. In the second phase of this review, the fibre-matrix interaction and their corresponding physical and mechanical performance were discussed. The typical failure modes observed in NFRCs were outlined and means to improve their facture toughness were proposed. Finally, the third section comprised the durability and degradation assessment of key components of the biodegradable NFRCs, namely the fibre reinforcement, matrix and interface sections. Additionally, the impact of disposing of similar composite materials in the environment was assessed, and present-day recycling techniques were discussed. Further research on the mechanical performance, durability traits and degradability aspects of NFRCs as enumerated in this study will unquestionably promote their use and integration into a wider range of engineering applications in our modern society.