An investigation on the mechanical properties, surface treatments and applications of abaca fibre-reinforced composites

ABSTRACT

The emphasis has shifted away from synthetic fibres and towards natural fibres as a result of the increased industrial demand for environmentally friendly products. Natural fibres are suitable candidates for use in modern industrial applications since they are biodegradable, lightweight, affordable, and environmentally beneficial. One fibre that has very good mechanical properties is abaca fibre. This paper reviews the literature on abaca fibres as a reinforcing material. The composition and properties of abaca fibres are discussed, along with various studies on abaca-reinforced composites. Abaca reinforced composite’s difficulties and future work are therefore investigated. Research shows that pre-treating abaca fibres improves the composite’s mechanical characteristics. Also, there have been attempts to improve the mechanical characteristics and environmental performance of current synthetic composites by adding abaca fibres. Abaca is anticipated to become one of the most effective sources of reinforcing fibre for use in the building of a variety of components, including aerospace and automotive materials.

KEYWORDS:

• Abaca fibres
• mechanical properties
• surface treatments
• applications
• hybrid composites

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).