1st Edition

Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites

Edited By Amar K. Mohanty, Manjusri Misra, Lawrence T. Drzal Copyright 2005
    894 Pages 274 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Natural/Biofiber composites are emerging as a viable alternative to glass fiber composites, particularly in automotive, packaging, building, and consumer product industries, and becoming one of the fastest growing additives for thermoplastics. Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites provides a clear understanding of the present state and the growing utility of biocomposites.

    Including contributions from experts on biobased materials, the book defines biocomposites and discusses the combination of fibers such as flax, jute, bamboo, pineapple leaf and oil palm fibers, kenaf, and industrial hemp with polymer matrices from both non-renewable and renewable resources. The authors also discuss the chemical nature, testing, biological synthesis, and properties of natural fibers in comparison to traditional materials as well as their cumulative properties when combined with various polymers to produce composite materials that are competitive with synthetic composites.

    Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites explains the rise of petrochemical and plastic products, the problems associated in their disposal, and how biopolymers offer a realistic solution to these problems. It analyzes the varying degrees biodegradability in biobased polymers depending on their composition and structure as well as the environment in which they are placed. Subsequent chapters discuss the advantages and applications of biodegradable polymers derived from starch and cellulose, soybeans, and even from renewable resources and petroleum. The authors conclude with recent trends and opportunities for the future use of biocomposites as alternatives to petroleum-based composites.

    The only source available today that focuses on biobased materials, Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites integrates the principles of sustainability, industrial ecology, eco-efficiency, and green chemistry and engineering into the development of the next generation of materials, products, and processes.

    Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites: An Introduction; A.K. Mohanty, M. Misra, L.T. Drzal, S.E. Selke, B.R. Harte, and G.Hinrichsen
    Plant Fibers as Reinforcement for Green Composites; A. Bismarck, S. Mishra, and T. Lampke
    Processing of Bast Fiber Plants for Industrial Application; F. Munder, C. Fürll, and H.Hempel
    Recent Developments in Retting and Measurement of Fiber Quality in Natural Fibers: Pro and Cons; R.B. Dodd and D.E. Akin
    Alternative Low-Cost Biomass for the Biocomposites Industry; D.D. Stokke
    Fiber-Matrix Adhesion in Natural Fiber Composites; P.J. Herrera Franco and A. Valadez-González
    Natural Fiber Composites in Automotive Applications; B.C. Suddell and W.J. Evans
    Natural Fiber Composites for Building Applications; B. Singh and M. Gupta
    Thermoset Biocomposites; D. Ray and J. Rout
    Thermoplastic Wood Fiber Composites; S. Godavarti
    Bamboo-Based Ecocomposites and Their Potential Applications; K. Kitagawa, U. S. Ishiaku, M. Mizoguchi, and H. Hamada
    Oil Palm Fiber–Thermoplastic Composites; H.D. Rozman, Z.A. Mohd Ishak, and U.S. Ishiaku
    Natural Fiber–Rubber Composites and Their Applications; S. Joseph, M. Jacob, and S. Thomas
    Straw-Based Biomass and Biocomposites; X. Mo, D. Wang, and X.S. Sun
    Sorona®Polymer: Present Status and Future Perspectives; J.V. Kurian
    Polylactic Acid Technology; D.E. Henton, P. Gruber, J. Lunt, and J. Randall
    Polylactide-Based Biocomposites; D. Plackett and A. Södergård
    Bacterial Polyester-Based Biocomposites: A Review; A. Hodzic
    Cellulose Fiber-Reinforced Cellulose Esters:  Biocomposites for the Future; G. Toriz, P. Gatenholm, B.D. Seiler, and D. Tindall
    Starch Polymers: Chemistry, Engineering, and Novel Products; B.-S. Chiou, G.M. Glenn, S.H. Imam,  M.K. Inglesby, D.F. Wood, and W.J. Orts
    Lignin-Based Polymer Blends and Biocomposite Materials; S. Kubo, R.D. Gilbert, and J.F. Kadla
    Soy Protein-Based Plastics, Blends, and Composites; A.K. Mohanty, W. Liu, P. Tummala, L.T. Drzal, M. Misra, and R.Narayan
    Synthesis, Properties, and Potential Applications of Novel Thermosetting Biopolymers from Soybean and Other Natural Oils; F. Li and R.C. Larock
    Houses Using Soy Oil and Natural Fibers Biocomposites; M.A. Dweib, A. O’Donnell, R.P. Wool, B. Hu, and H.W. Shenton III
    Biobased Polyurethanes and Their Composites: Present Status and Future Perspective; J.-P. Latere Dwan’Isa, A.K. Mohanty, M. Misra, and L.T. Drzal
    Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites; L. Berglund
    How Sustainable Are Biopolymers and Biobased Products? The Hope, the Doubts, and the Reality; M. Patel and R. Narayan Index

    Biography

    Manjusri Misra, Amar K. Mohanty, Lawrence T. Drzal