A Literature Review on the Mechanical Properties of Banana Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

The usage of composite materials and environmental contamination, as well as the utilization of renewable and biodegradable resources, are closely intertwined in today's rapidly developing world. An environmental researcher is hunting for sustainable materials. The forms and sizes of both natural and synthetic fibers are diverse. Researchers, engineers, and scientists have recently become interested in natural fibers as an alternative reinforcement for fiber-reinforced polymer composites. They are used to replace more traditional fibers like glass, aramid, and carbon because of their low cost, low density, non-toxicity, reasonable mechanical quality, high specific strength, non-abrasive nature, eco-friendliness, and minor waste disposal issues. The possible uses of natural fibers have been thoroughly investigated by researchers. However, in this decade, other fibers have become more significant, including banana, jute, coir, abaca, sisal, straw wheat, rice husk, pineapple leaf fiber, cotton, oats, and bagasse. The banana (Musa sapientum) plant, also known as “kalpataru,” is a huge herb, a food fruit crop, and an old species that is grown all over the world. The world's largest banana producer is Bangladesh. In addition to producing the delectable fruit, the banana plant also yields banana fiber, a type of textile fabric. Bangladesh produces 37,778.74 tons of banana fiber annually. Among the uses for banana fiber are paper, polymer composite reinforcement, and teabags. Originally from Southeast Asia, banana trees' stems, which are discarded after the fruit is harvested, can be used to make banana fiber. The physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of the polymer composites have significantly improved when banana fibers are used as reinforcement. An in-depth analysis of banana fiber reinforced composites and their prospective applications is provided in the current work. Waste will be decreased, energy efficiency will be improved, and sustainability will all be supported by mixing banana fiber with some contemporary technologies. This study examines banana fibers, including their mechanical characteristics, usage, and potential applications for enhancing mechanical properties.