Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

Lignin beyond the status quo: recent and emerging composite applications

This review examines recent advances in using lignin, a natural plant polymer, as a component in composite materials across various industries. Researchers highlight how lignin-based composites can serve as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics in packaging, construction, and other applications. The study suggests that scaling up lignin-based materials could help reduce dependence on petroleum-derived plastics and the resulting microplastic pollution.

2023 Green Chemistry 114 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

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

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

Wet-Spun Composite Filaments from Lignocellulose Nanofibrils/Alginate and Their Physico-Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed composite fibers from lignocellulose nanofibrils and alginate, examining how varying lignin content affects the fibers' properties and biodegradability. These bio-based materials represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastic fibers, which contribute to microplastic pollution through textile washing and degradation.

2021 Polymers 7 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
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

Exploring the Potential of Posidonia oceanica Fibers in Eco-Friendly Composite Materials: A Review

This review explores the potential of Posidonia oceanica, a marine seagrass abundant in the Mediterranean, as a natural fiber reinforcement in composite materials. The plant fibers show promise as fillers in both cementitious and polymer composites, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic reinforcements that contribute to microplastic pollution. Using this abundant marine biomass in construction and manufacturing could reduce dependence on synthetic plastics while valorizing a natural resource.

2025 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable Green Polymers, Green Nanopolymers and Green Nanocomposites Derived from Natural Systems: Statistics and Headways

This review summarizes advances in biodegradable green polymers and nanocomposites derived from natural sources, covering their properties, classification, and environmental benefits. Developing genuinely biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics is essential for reducing long-term microplastic accumulation in ecosystems.

2023 Nano-Horizons Journal of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Composites with different Reinforced Natural Fibers – A Comparative Study

This is a materials science study comparing the mechanical properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with five different natural plant fibers; it is not a microplastics research paper.

2023 Journal of Ecological Engineering 9 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
Article Tier 2

Market competition and risk assessment of nanofiber composite materials

This review examines the market competition and risk assessment landscape for nanocellulose composite materials, which are biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics for some applications. Replacing plastic with plant-based materials can reduce long-term microplastic accumulation in the environment.

2023 Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental
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

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

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

Potential Analysis for the Use of Bio-Based Plastics with Natural Fiber Reinforcement in Additive Manufacturing

Researchers reviewed the potential for using plant-based (bio-based) plastics reinforced with natural fibers in 3D printing as a sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel-derived composites, finding that while such materials could offer comparable strength at lower environmental cost, economic viability and biodegradability under real-world conditions remain challenges.

2023 Lecture notes in mechanical engineering
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Characterization of Ecuadorian Bamboo Fiber-Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Biocomposites

Researchers prepared and characterized biocomposites made from Ecuadorian bamboo fiber reinforced in low-density polyethylene, finding that the natural fiber reinforcement improved several material properties compared to pure LDPE. The study highlights bamboo fiber composites as a more sustainable alternative that reduces reliance on purely synthetic plastics.

2023 Evergreen 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review

This review examines how natural fiber composites used in boats and marine structures absorb water and become damaged by marine organisms over time. While focused on engineering materials rather than health effects, the study is relevant to microplastic research because degrading composite materials in aquatic environments can release plastic particles and chemical additives into the water. Understanding how these materials break down helps identify an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in marine environments.

2024 Journal of Composites Science 13 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

Sustainable biomaterials based on cellulose, chitin and chitosan composites - A review

Researchers reviewed advances in making sustainable composite materials from cellulose, chitin, and chitosan — abundant natural polymers found in plants and shellfish — as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution. The review covers how these biopolymers can be dissolved and combined into fibers, films, and gels for a wide range of environmentally friendly applications.

2021 Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications 117 citations