Natural Fiber Based Composites

<p>Entitled Natural Fiber-Based Composites this Special Issue has the objective to give an inventory of the latest research in the area of composites reinforced with natural fibers. Fibers of renewable origin have many advantages. They are abundant and cheap they have a reduced impact on the environment and they are also independent from fossil resources. Their ability to mechanically reinforce thermoplastic matrices is well known as their natural heat insulation ability.</p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In the last twenty years the use of cellulosic and lignocellulosic agricultural by-products for composite applications has been of great interest especially for reinforcing matrices. The matrices can themselves be of renewable origin (e.g. proteins starch polylactic acid polyhydroxyalkanoates polyamides etc.) thus contributing to the development of 100% bio-based composites with a controlled end of life.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This Special Issue's objective is to give an inventory of the latest research in this area of composites reinforced with natural fibers focusing in particular on the preparation and molding processes of such materials (e.g. extrusion injection-molding hot pressing etc.) and their characterization. It contains one review and nineteen research reports authored by researchers from four continents and sixteen countries namely Brazil China France Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Pakistan Poland Qatar Serbia Slovenia Spain Sweden Tunisia and Vietnam.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>It provides an update on current research in the field of natural fiber based composite materials. All these contributions will be a source of inspiration for the development of new composites especially for producers of natural fibers polymer matrices of renewable origin and composite materials. Generally speaking these new materials are environmentally friendly and will undoubtedly find numerous applications in the years to come in many sectors.</span></p><p>Dr. Philippe Evon</p><p>Guest Editor</p>