Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Sisal Fiber-Based Composites

Abstract

Natural fibers have attracted the scientific community toward their usage as reinforcement in polymeric composites mainly because of multiple benefits such as low cost, huge/easy availability, easy processing, and growing concern toward environmental awareness as they are biodegradable. Reinforcing natural fibers is an efficient approach toward reducing the consumption of nonbiodegradable plastic material. Also, natural fibers are promising reinforcing materials that can replace different synthetic fibers. Among the various natural fibers available, sisal fiber as reinforcement in a polymeric matrix is a strong competitor. Sisal fiber has several advantages like they are the widely used natural fiber and has the second-largest consumption across the world after cotton. It has high strength with good durability. It also has a good percentage of elongation before the break and does not deteriorate quickly in salty water. These fibers are smooth and straight with a high degree of inflexibility. Sisal represents around 2% of the total cultivation among plant fibers. In this regard, the present chapter focuses on sisal fiber as reinforcement with different polymeric matrices. The main emphasis is on the mechanical and thermal behavior of composite understudy and applications of this category of composites in various fields. A review of selected work on the research of sisal fiber with polymer matrix is the content of this chapter. © 2022 WILEY-VCH GmbH, Boschstr. 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany.