Recent Advances in the Application of Natural Fiber Based Composites

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are lightweight, economical and available in a variety of forms. They have low densities, comparable material properties, high molding flexibility and are environmentally friendly, making them a conceivable alternative to traditional fillers like mica, calcium carbonate and glass. By modifying either the resin system or the natural fiber, biocomposites can be designed for different applications ranging from products of commodity to aerospace, examples including electroactive papers, fuel cell membranes, controlled drug release mechanisms and biosensors. This review aims to analyze the advancement in the application of cellulose based materials in different sectors with a discussion of fundamental research in these areas.