Fahmida-E- Karim

Bio-composites are emerging as viable alternatives to conventional building materials owing to their renewable origin, environmental benefits, and potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector. Comprising natural fibers embedded within polymer matrices, these materials have attracted considerable attention within the building industry for their capacity to mitigate environmental impact while offering functional alternatives to conventional synthetic materials. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the various classes of bio-composites, their applications in building construction, mechanical properties, manufacturing processes, associated advantages and limitations, and prospects for future development. Natural and agricultural fibers such as jute, hemp, flax, sisal, bamboo, rice husk, wheat straw, and coconut coir, combined with matrices including corn starch, arrowroot, polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, and bio-based epoxy resin, are evaluated in terms of their structural and functional performance. Particular attention is given to recent advances in bio-composite fabrication, including the incorporation of novel binder systems, hybrid fiber reinforcements, and chemical surface treatments aimed at enhancing mechanical and thermal performance. The environmental benefits of bio-composites are also discussed, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, and minimized construction waste, all of which align with the objectives of green building standards and sustainable construction practices. Nevertheless, several challenges continue to impede widespread adoption, including moisture sensitivity, variability in raw material properties, insufficient long-term performance data, and the absence of standardized testing protocols. The significant potential of bio-composites to advance sustainable construction practices, offering a practical pathway toward reducing the environmental footprint of the built environment.

Recycled waste composites are critical for promoting sustainability, decreasing waste, and developing new, usable materials from wasted components. They contribute significantly to the development of a circular economy by offering cost‐effective and environmentally beneficial alternatives to conventional materials. This study investigates the creation of a sustainable thermal insulating composite by recovering cotton–polyester hard waste from spinning mills. The composite was made with arrowroot powder as the natural matrix and cotton–polyester waste as the reinforcing ingredient. A thorough characterization was performed to determine its mechanical, thermal, and physical characteristics. The composite has a tensile strength of 33.18 MPa and a flexural strength of 17 MPa, showing intermediate mechanical properties. The insulating foam had a water absorbency of 61%, shore hardness of 69, and density of 670 kg/m ³ , all of which were higher than average values. The developed composite’s thermal conductivity of 0.0368 W/m·K matches that of insulation materials, indicating its potential as an effective thermal insulator. Optical microscopy revealed a rough and diverse surface, typical of natural fiber‐reinforced composites. Despite having lower mechanical strengths than commercial insulation foams, the composite shows promise in terms of thermal performance, density, hardness, and environmental sustainability, making it a potential option for eco‐friendly thermal insulation applications.

Natural fibers are gaining popularity as eco‐friendly and biodegradable reinforcements in polymer composites. This project is aimed at extracting and analyzing organic cellulose fibers from the barks of Microcos paniculata plants, employing a 9‐day water retting process followed by alkali treatment with 5% ( w / w ) NaOH. Both alkali‐treated and untreated fibers were analyzed using advanced techniques to assess their key properties. The chemical composition of the untreated fibers, determined by the TAPPI method, was found to consist of 55% cellulose, 20% hemicellulose, and 18% lignin, with the cellulose content increasing to 64% after alkali treatment. Surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed a smoother surface for untreated fibers and a rougher surface for alkali‐treated fibers. The density and moisture regain of the fibers were measured as 1.28 g/cm ³ and 12.61%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups, which correspond to the cellulosic polymers, and indicated the removal of natural impurities after alkali treatment. The crystallinity index and tenacity of the alkali‐treated fibers increased from 63% to 69% and from 34.85 to 38.59 g/tex, respectively, compared to the untreated fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated excellent thermal stability, with the fibers exhibiting temperature resistance up to ~240°C and 24.09% char formation at 993°C. These results suggest that the isolated natural cellulose fibers from M. paniculata have significant potential as a durable reinforcement material in polymer composites.

Natural fiber‐reinforced, natural resin (NFR‐NR)–based biocomposites are a sustainable set of materials developed to offset the ecological and environmental consequences resulting from the use of man‐made composites. The biocomposites are reinforced with the vegetable fibers such as jute, flax, hemp, kenaf, and so on with biodegradable polymeric matrices such as polylactic acid (PLA), starch‐based plastics, soy protein resins, and lignin‐based thermosets. Due to their renewability, low density, biodegradability, and favorable mechanical properties, these materials are gaining significance for use in car parts, construction panels, packaging, and domestic goods. Distinct from the existing literature, the contribution of this review is that there is a systematic linking of processing techniques with properties in fully bio‐based materials in order to provide an application‐oriented overview. Environmental benefits, economic viability, and commercialization aspects are also addressed. Finally, key research gaps and directions for future development are presented to facilitate broader adoption of these green materials.

Hemp fibers have mechanical characteristics similar to those of synthetic fibers, which makes them an attractive material for producing environmentally friendly composites. Hemp fibers have excellent mechanical properties and a unique hydrophilicity, requiring for extra attention in composite formulations. Hemp fibers are a very versatile vegetable fiber that is frequently utilized in structural composites. In addition, hemp has shown potential in a variety of other fields, including as sports goods, building, and lighter materials. The present article aims to give a comprehensive summary of the status of sophisticated studies in hemp fiber reinforced composites at present time. The most important research on thermoset and thermoplastic materials reinforced with hemp fiber is compiled and discussed in this publication. This document also provides an overview of the primary attributes of hemp fibers, talks about how to develop these attributes chemically, explains how to create and describe hemp fiber composites, and identifies areas that need more research. In summary, this study ends with several important recommendations and future approaches that draw attention to the issues that require further investigation and potential industrialization of composites.Highlights: Advances in hemp fiber extraction and chemical treatments. Performance traits of hemp‐reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites. Tribological, and moisture absorption properties of hemp fiber composites. SEM analysis revealing composite structural characteristics. Future applications and sustainability of hemp fiber in polymers.

Growth of renewable plant‐based cellulosic fiber is vital for a sustainable future. Natural cellulosic fibers are important for sustainability since they are renewable and biodegradable and have a minimal environmental effect. Extracting these fibers benefits environmentally friendly companies by providing alternatives to synthetic products, lowering carbon footprints, and reusing agricultural waste. This article describes a newly produced and unique natural fiber made from Amaranthus viridis fibers (AVFs) using hot water and 5% NaOH retting. ASTM standards have been used to evaluate the fiber’s hygroscopic behavior, density, fiber bundle strength, burning behavior, and chemical components. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared, burn test, and thermogravimetric analysis tests are used to assess the fiber crystallinity, fiber arrangement, biological classification, combustion activity, and temperature sensitivity of substances materials. The extracted AVF with high cellulose content comprises 46.54% cellulose and has a mean moisture recovery and content percentage of 22.49% and 18.35%, accordingly. The suggested fiber has a mean tensile strength of 10.23 g/tex and breaking extension of 1.35 mm and got crystallinity of 41%. This fiber degrades at 595°C. The fiber is predominantly cellulose‐based, with great moisture retention and recovery, strong strength, and thermal stability (degrades at 595°C). It possesses a moderate crystallinity that balances strength and flexibility, although it is less elastic (low breaking extension). It is appropriate for moisture management applications but not for ones that require a lot of stretch. This fiber has several applications, including biological materials, cellulose nanoparticles, and fiber‐reinforced composites.

Flax fibers are a viable material for creating sustainable composites since they have mechanical qualities similar to those of synthetic fibers. Because of their unique hydrophilicity and strong mechanical properties, flax fibers should be taken into specific attention while creating composite materials. Vegetable fibers like flax are highly versatile and are frequently utilized in structural composites. Additionally, flax has shown potential in a variety of other uses, including as shipping, automotive, aerospace, and construction. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of advancement in flax fiber reinforcement composite research. The most important research on thermoset and thermoplastic composites reinforced with flax fiber is compiled and analyzed in this article. This article also summarizes the main properties of flax fibers, discusses chemically enhancing their qualities, explains the process of making and analyzing flax fiber composites, and identifies areas that require more research. The article concludes with a few critical ideas and future directions that emphasize the challenges that need to be handled in more in‐depth research and probable composites industrialization.Highlights: Flax fibers: Structure, composition, and extraction techniques explored. Polymer matrices in flax fiber composites: Types and processing methods. Mechanical properties of thermoset and thermoplastic flax fiber reinforced composites. Applications of flax fiber composites in automotive, construction, and aerospace. Future potential of flax fiber and hybrid composites in advanced materials.

The upward trajectory of plant-based cellulosic fiber originating from renewable sources is crucial to visualizing a sustainable future. This article reports a freshly developed and distinctive natural fiber derived from palmyra seed sprout fibers (PSSF) by employing hot water retting. The hygroscopic behavior (moisture regain and content) density, bundle fiber strength, burning behavior, and chemical composition of the fiber are determined using ASTM D1909, ASTM D2654, ASTM D891-18, ASTM D1445, ASTM D1230-22, and TAPPI standards, respectively. Crystallinity, fiber configuration, biological groups, flame behavior, and temperature responsiveness are determined using XRD, SEM, FTIR, burn test, and TGA tests. The reported cellulose-rich textile fiber that contains 64% cellulose with average moisture recovery and content percentages of 14.38% and 12.56%, respectively. The envisioned fiber has an average tensile strength of 11.05 g tex⁻¹, a breaking extension of 1.8 mm, and a crystallinity of 38%. The highest temperature at which the fiber begins to deteriorate is 474 °C. This noble fiber can be utilized to create biological materials, cellulose nanoparticles, composites reinforced with fibers, and more.

Date palm fibers possess mechanical properties to synthetic fibers, making them a promising material for fabricating sustainable composites. Date palm fibers exhibit particular hydrophilicity and good mechanical characteristics, which require for particular considerations in composite compositions. Date palm fibers are an incredibly adaptable kind of vegetable fiber which is often used in structural composites. Date palm has also demonstrated promise in a number of other applications, including construction, lighter materials, and sports products. The goal of this study is to present an extensive summary of the current status of research date palm fiber reinforcement composites. This article gives a summary and analysis of the most significant studies on thermoset and thermoplastic composites reinforced with date palm fiber. This document also provides a summary of the primary attributes of date palm fibers, discusses how to improve their characteristics chemically, describes how to create and characterize date palm fiber composites, and highlights prospects for further study. This paper concludes with a few essential suggestions and future directions that highlight the problems that need to be solved in more in‐depth research and possible composites industrialization.Highlights: Overviewing the composites made from date palm fiber Different properties of date palm fibers Mechanical behavior of date palm composites Applications of date palm composite Future prospects of the date palm composites.

Nanofibers are extensively employed in the antimicrobial industry owing to their remarkable properties and diverse applications. Managing wounds poses a significant and enduring challenge for healthcare systems globally. This study aims to produce and evaluate electrospun nanofiber mats made from poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Coccinia grandis (C. grandis) leaf extract, highlighting the medicinal properties of this herbal product for potential biomedical applications (wound dressing). During the evaluations, a 60:40 ratio of PVA to leaf extract was found to be suitable, and the electrospinning process was utilized for production. Scanning electron microscopy was employed for morphological assessment, and an antibacterial assay was conducted against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) to evaluate cell cytotoxicity. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and moisture management behavior (moisture management test) analyses were performed on the fabricated electrospun nanofibrous mat. The formation of small beads was confirmed, with the nanofibers having an average diameter of 295.07 ± 0.0032 nm and a porosity of approximately 76%, which is adequate for oxygen circulation and air ventilation, ensuring skin breathability. Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) exhibited a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 14 mm, while Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) showed a ZOI of 10 mm, attributed to the presence of a thick peptidoglycan cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria with no cell toxicity (100% cell viability). FTIR confirms the formation of weak van der Waals bonds and represents H-bonds between PVA polymer and C. grandis leaf extract. Furthermore, according to the MMT analysis, the electrospun nanofibrous mat demonstrates rapid absorption and slow drying properties. Therefore, the produced electrospun nanofibrous mat could prove beneficial for wound dressing purposes.