Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites: An Introduction
2005
As a result of a growing awareness of the interconnectivity of global environmental
factors, principles of sustainability, industrial ecology, ecoefficiency, and green
chemistry and engineering are being integrated into the development of the next
generation of materials, products, and processes.1-7 The depletion of petroleum resources
coupled with increasing environmental regulations are acting synergistically to provide
the impetus for new materials and products that are compatible with the environment and
independent of fossil fuels. Composite materials, especially “green composites,” fit well
into this new paradigm shift. Simply stated, biobased materials include industrial
products for durable goods applications, made from renewable agricultural and forestry
feed stocks, including wood, agricultural waste, grasses and natural plant fibers
composed of carbohydrates such as sugars and starch, lignin and cellulose, as well as
vegetable oils and proteins. Producing chemical products and new materials from
renewable resources is not a new idea. Most of the chemical products and materials came
from renewable resources until the early part of the 20th century.1 The success and
tremendous growth of the petrochemical industry in the 20th century, however, slowed
the growth of biobased products. Environmental as well as economic factors are now
driving the trend toward greater utilization of biobased polymers and materials.2-5 The
challenge to scientists and engineers is to develop the technology needed to make the
biobased materials revolution a reality.
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