A review on cotton fibre-reinforced polymer composites and their applications

Natural fibres may be a good alternative to synthetic fibres when reinforcing polymer composites in order to maintain a healthy environment. Cotton is a natural fibre with many benefits, including low density, good heat conductivity, high flexibility, resilience, elasticity and renewability. Cotton's crystalline and fibrillar structure accounts for its exceptional strength. We were inspired to conduct this review because of the potential of cotton fibre, as well as its mass production and low cost. This article reviews and summarises the mechanical properties of cotton fibre-reinforced polymer composites, including their flexural, tensile and impact properties. The effect of compatibilizers on the adhesion of two different phases of a composite material was also investigated in this study. Cotton fibre-reinforced composites were investigated as a replacement for desirable features by the textile, building and automotive industries. The industrial applications of cotton fibre-reinforced polymer composites are also highlighted in the final section.

Automated summary

Cotton fibre has the potential to be an alternative to synthetic fibres in reinforcing polymer composites. This article reviews the mechanical properties of cotton fibre-reinforced composites and investigates the effect of compatibilizers on the adhesion of composite materials. The industrial applications of cotton fibre-reinforced composites are also highlighted.