17 Jan 2024 | Thinesh Sharma Balakrishnan, Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan, Farah Syazwani Shahar, Suhas Yeshwant Nayak, Ain Umaira Md Shah, Tamer Ali Sebaey & Adi Azriff Basri
Plant fiber reinforcements are being explored as alternatives to synthetic fibers in pultruded FRP composites to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. This review highlights the potential of plant fibers such as kenaf and jute in pultruded composite manufacturing, noting their lightweight properties, recyclability, and ability to replace synthetic fibers in commercial applications. While pultruded plant fiber composites (PFCs) exhibit good mechanical properties, they face challenges such as high water absorption, which limits their use in outdoor environments. The review discusses the optimal process parameters, limitations, and potential applications of PFCs, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance their performance and expand their use in structural applications. Hybrid composites combining plant and synthetic fibers are also being studied to improve mechanical and environmental properties. Future research directions include developing advanced coatings and surface treatments to enhance the durability and performance of PFCs, as well as exploring bio-based resins and thermoplastic pultrusion techniques to improve sustainability. The integration of plant fibers into pultrusion processes requires minimal modifications to existing setups, making it a feasible and eco-friendly transition. Overall, the review underscores the importance of further investigation into the application of PFCs to meet the demands of sustainable structural profiles in various industries.Plant fiber reinforcements are being explored as alternatives to synthetic fibers in pultruded FRP composites to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. This review highlights the potential of plant fibers such as kenaf and jute in pultruded composite manufacturing, noting their lightweight properties, recyclability, and ability to replace synthetic fibers in commercial applications. While pultruded plant fiber composites (PFCs) exhibit good mechanical properties, they face challenges such as high water absorption, which limits their use in outdoor environments. The review discusses the optimal process parameters, limitations, and potential applications of PFCs, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance their performance and expand their use in structural applications. Hybrid composites combining plant and synthetic fibers are also being studied to improve mechanical and environmental properties. Future research directions include developing advanced coatings and surface treatments to enhance the durability and performance of PFCs, as well as exploring bio-based resins and thermoplastic pultrusion techniques to improve sustainability. The integration of plant fibers into pultrusion processes requires minimal modifications to existing setups, making it a feasible and eco-friendly transition. Overall, the review underscores the importance of further investigation into the application of PFCs to meet the demands of sustainable structural profiles in various industries.