Plasma modification of natural fiber: A review

Fibers obtained from fruits, stem, and plant leaves are nature-based fibers and are known as natural fiber. Due to their versatile properties such as good mechanical behavior, low cost, eco-friendly, less dense, biodegradable, etc. natural fibers are getting focus amongst researchers. Since the density of biocomposites reinforced by natural fiber is significantly inferior to other traditional materials they satisfy the automotive need of high-performance vehicle parts/components of lightweight. To decrease the cost and weight of the vehicle automotive manufacturers are extensively utilizing the natural fibers (as interior insulation, seat bottom, door panels, dashboard, body panels, boot liner, etc.). Although, the composite of natural fiber has few shortcomings like poor chemical and fire resistance, poor interfacial bonding among matrix and fiber, moisture intake. Thus, natural fiber is required to be surface treated. Among the finest method for physical treatment is plasma treatment. Herein plasma which participates within surface modification directly is produced within the vacuum chamber by the ionization of the gas. The improved interfacial bonding in fiber composite is obtained as a result of surface treatment of plasma, which results in increase mechanical strength. Effect of surface treatment of plasma on several natural fiber is included in this paper and the aim of this review paper is to occupy the literature gap through this paper. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Natural fibers, obtained from fruits, stem, and plant leaves, are gaining attention due to their good mechanical behavior, low cost, and other properties. Biocomposites reinforced by natural fibers have lower density, meeting the lightweight high-performance automotive parts requirements. Plasma surface treatment enhances the interfacial bonding in fiber composites, improving their mechanical strength.