Tribology of Plant-Based Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites – a Short Review

Abstract

In the framework of environment-friendly materials, natural fiber polymer matrix composites are in demand in the current years. Natural fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites (NFRPCs) involved massive attention to the industries and academia due to their excellent strength, modulus of elasticity, and Tribo properties. This article focuses on the application of natural fiber-reinforced composite materials in many engineering systems and the effect of different material parameters – like the length of the fiber, fiber weight fraction, fiber surface treatment, fiber orientation, etc., and different operating parameters – like load, speed, sliding distance, temperature, etc., on the friction and wear behavior of the NFRPCs. The different wear mechanisms and the principle used in wear test rigs are also presented, aiming to showcase a scope of composite as Tribo material and highlight further research directions to accomplish a comprehensive outline on the tribo behavior of various natural fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Keywords

• composite material
• natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites
• wear
• friction