Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Properties and Applications of Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers – a Brief Review

This review examines the properties and applications of natural lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced composites as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. Natural fiber composites are biodegradable alternatives to glass and carbon fiber plastics, which can generate microplastic debris when they break down.

2023 Journal of Engineering Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing Packaging Sustainability with Natural Fiber Reinforced Biocomposites: An outlook into the future

This review examines natural fiber-reinforced biocomposites — made from agricultural waste and plant fibers — as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based packaging materials, discussing manufacturing techniques, recent advances, and remaining challenges for wider adoption across food and consumer goods packaging.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing abrasive wear in sustainable MCC reinforced hemp bamboo epoxy composites for tribological applications

**TLDR:** Scientists created a new type of eco-friendly material by combining hemp and bamboo fibers with a natural plant-based additive called microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). This sustainable material could replace some petroleum-based plastics in products that experience wear and friction, like car parts or machinery components. By using these plant-based materials instead of traditional plastics, we could reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and potentially decrease microplastic pollution in the environment.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Biobased Polymer Composites: A Review

This review surveyed the development of biobased polymer composites using natural fibers like hemp, flax, and sisal, highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials while discussing challenges in mechanical performance and processing.

2022 Journal of Composites Science 123 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanical properties of fibre/ filler based poly(Lactic Acid) (Pla) composites : A brief review

This review examines the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites reinforced with natural fibers and fillers, presenting PLA as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics in applications ranging from agriculture to biomedical devices. Improving the strength and durability of bio-based plastics is essential for replacing petroleum-based materials that generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Acta Innovations 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

This review examined biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers as alternatives to conventional plastics. Combining biodegradable matrices with plant fibers improved mechanical performance while maintaining degradability and reducing the risk of persistent microplastic contamination. These materials represent a promising direction for sustainable packaging and construction applications.

2022 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Compatibility of Polymer/Fiber to Enhance the Wood Plastic Composite Properties and their Applications

This review examined how fiber compatibility affects the properties of wood-plastic composite materials, which combine natural fibers with plastic matrices for construction and other uses. Developing better bio-composite materials can help reduce reliance on pure plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2021 Egyptian Journal of Chemistry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Progress on Natural Fibers Mixed with CFRP and GFRP: Properties, Characteristics, and Failure Behaviour

This review examined the properties and performance of natural fiber composites hybridized with carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced polymers, finding that combining natural and synthetic fibers produces lightweight, cost-effective materials with lower environmental impact than pure synthetic composites. The authors identify hybrid bio-composites as a sustainable direction for structural applications currently dominated by fossil-fuel-derived fiber materials.

2022 Polymers 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Interface Enhancement and Tribological Properties of Cattle Manure-Derived Corn Stalk Fibers for Friction Materials: The Role of Silane Treatment Concentration

Researchers optimized silane treatment concentration (2-10 wt.%) for corn stalk fibers extracted from cattle manure to produce friction materials, finding that 6 wt.% silane treatment yielded the best fiber-matrix compatibility and tribological performance. The biological pre-treatment from ruminant digestion was found to create distinctive fiber properties that influence subsequent chemical modification.

2024 Polymers 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Environmental Degradation of Plastic Composites with Natural Fillers—A Review

Researchers examined the environmental degradation of polymer composites containing natural fillers, finding that exposure to outdoor conditions accelerates biodegradation of natural components and alters the mechanical properties of the composite material. The degradation process can generate microplastic fragments as the matrix breaks down.

2020 Polymers 214 citations
Review Tier 2

Analytical approaches to fiber-reinforced polymer composites: a short review

This review examines analytical techniques for characterizing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, covering mechanical and chemical evaluation methods for both synthetic and natural fiber matrices, fiber surface treatments, and the development of more ecologically sustainable composite materials.

2023 Polímeros 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Uniaxial fatigue study of a natural-based bio-composite material reinforced with fique natural fibers

Researchers studied the uniaxial fatigue behavior of a polymer matrix composite reinforced with natural fique fibers as an environmentally friendly substitute for synthetic fiber composites. The study characterized fatigue life under cyclic loading to assess whether natural fiber biocomposites can meet performance requirements for structural applications.

2024 Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Biodegradable Biocomposites Reinforced With Natural Fibers: A Review on Processing, Properties, and Degradation

As concern grows about plastic waste and microplastic pollution from synthetic polymers, this review examines biodegradable biocomposites reinforced with natural plant fibers as a more sustainable alternative. The authors find that these materials can match or exceed the mechanical performance of conventional plastics while actually degrading in the environment — but note a critical gap: lab biodegradation tests often do not reflect real-world conditions, creating uncertainty about how quickly these materials actually break down. Better standardized testing and lifecycle analysis are needed to confirm whether natural fiber biocomposites can genuinely replace conventional plastics at industrial scale.

2026 Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Article Tier 2

Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative

Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Synthetic, Natural, and Waste Fibers in Asphalt Mixtures: A Citation-Based Review

This review analyzed the use of synthetic, natural, and waste fibers in asphalt mixtures through citation-based analysis, finding that fiber reinforcement improves mechanical performance of asphalt while offering ecological sustainability benefits, though concerns about microplastic release from synthetic fibers remain.

2023 Polymers 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Potential of Fique Fiber as a Natural Composite Material: A Comprehensive Characterization Study

This study comprehensively characterized fique fiber (from the Furcraea plant) for potential use as a natural engineering composite material, analyzing its chemical composition, physical, thermal, mechanical, and textile properties.

2023 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Adhesives Combined with Lotus Leaf Fiber to Prepare Bio-Composites for Substituting the Plastic Packaging Materials

Researchers prepared biodegradable composite packaging materials by combining natural bio-adhesives with lotus leaf fiber, testing mechanical and thermal properties. Natural fiber composites offer an alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Future Prospects of Biodegradable Natural Fiber Composites: Innovations and Enhanced Performance in Roofing and Packaging Applications

Despite its title referencing sustainable composites and roofing/packaging, this paper studies the development of biodegradable natural fiber composites (from hemp, jute, and flax) as alternatives to synthetic fiber materials — not microplastic pollution research. It examines materials science for sustainable construction and packaging applications and is not directly relevant to microplastic contamination or human health.

2025 International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Vastness of Tribology and its Contribution for a Sustainable Development

This review organises the multidisciplinary field of tribology into six branches covering fundamental tribology, materials and lubricants, micro and nanotribology, industrial tribology, biotribology, and emerging frontiers, and examines its contributions to friction and wear reduction for sustainable development.

2024 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Drying of the Natural Fibers as A Solvent-Free Way to Improve the Cellulose-Filled Polymer Composite Performance

This materials science paper describes how thermal drying of cellulose fibers improves their performance as fillers in polymer composites. Developing stronger plant-fiber composites is part of the broader effort to create biodegradable plastic alternatives that do not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2020 Polymers 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of the Green Composite: Importance of Biopolymers, Uses and Challenges

This review examines the growing role of biopolymers and green composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The authors discuss how natural polymer structures can be engineered into composite materials that perform well while reducing long-term environmental harm. The study highlights both the promise and remaining challenges of scaling biopolymer use to replace traditional plastics that persist in the environment.

2023 Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A Mini Review of Natural Cellulosic Fibers: Extraction, Treatment and Characterization Methods

This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews methods for extracting, treating, and characterizing natural plant-derived cellulose fibers as sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials in composites and textiles.

2023 Journal of Computers Mechanical and Management 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Plant-Oil-Based Fibre Composites for Boat Hulls

This review examines plant-oil-based fiber composites for boat hull applications, covering the chemical and physical characteristics of natural fibers and sustainable bio-based resins, as well as the complex filler-matrix interaction challenges that must be addressed for successful commercialization. The authors note that despite ongoing technical obstacles, some green composite boat hull materials are already successfully commercialized.

2022 Materials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Tribological Performance of Short Fibers Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composite Materials Under Water-Lubricated Condition

This study evaluated the tribological performance of short fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites under water-lubricated conditions relevant to ship propulsion bearing systems. Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and carbon fibers significantly reduced friction and wear, improving bearing performance under low-speed, heavy-load conditions.

2024 Polymers 4 citations