Macro to nanoscale natural fiber composites for automotive components: Research, development, and application

Abstract Currently, high-strength fibers such as kevlar, carbon, spectra, glass fiber, carbon nanotube and zylon reinforced composite materials are commonly used in advanced transport structures. However, the world is changing and green material is at the forefront due to the depletion of inorganic materials such as petroleum and other mineral sources. Natural fibers can be classified as green materials, that is, defined as renewable materials. This chapter describes the recent advancements in biocomposites, specifically natural fiber polymer composites (NFPC). This is a material with significant mechanical and barrier properties that is also economical, biodegradable, renewable, and has a low density character. The above properties make NFPC promising for various advanced applications in such fields as automotive parts, papermaking, flexible optoelectronics, scaffolds, optical devices, pharmaceutical products, substitutes/medical biomaterials, spacecraft, aircraft, and tissue repair (wound dressing). In this chapter, the automotive applications of the natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are summarized. The present review covers reinforcement of macro- to nanoscale natural fibers with polymer composites for automotive applications.