This book covers the recent research advances on the utilization of date palm fibers as a new source of cellulosic fibers that can be used in the reinforcement of polymer composites. It discusses the competitive mechanical, physical, and chemical properties which make date palm fibers stand out as an alternative to other fibers currently used in the natural fiber composites market. This volume will be useful to researchers working on natural fiber composites and fiber reinforced composites looking to develop green, biodegradable and sustainable components for application in automotive, marine, aerospace, construction, wind energy and consumer goods sectors.

This book covers the recent research advances on the utilization of date palm fibers as a new source of cellulosic fibers that can be used in the reinforcement of polymer composites. It discusses the competitive mechanical, physical, and chemical properties which make date palm fibers stand out as an alternative to other fibers currently used in the natural fiber composites market. This volume will be useful to researchers working on natural fiber composites and fiber reinforced composites looking to develop green, biodegradable and sustainable components for application in automotive, marine, aerospace, construction, wind energy and consumer goods sectors.

This book focuses on the use of natural fiber composites (NFCs) in the automotive industry. The new race in the automotive industry is no longer speed, but rather low weight and sustainable. Major automakers and component suppliers are now shifting to natural fiber reinforcements for their composite components as a sustainable and lightweight alternative to conventional, synthetic reinforcements. The main object of this book is to bridge the gap between academic literature and actual industry practices, and to provide a comprehensive and integrated review on the use of NFC in the automotive industry from composite fabrication to recycling. The book focuses on the major areas of interest to academic researchers, such as the history of NFC in the automotive industry, specific types of materials used, material qualification programs, major technical challenges facing NFC, major processing techniques and parameters, analysis of major NFC parts used and their performance requirements, sustainability assessments including life cycle assessment and carbon footprint, and future trends.

Textile reinforcement forms (preforms) play an important role in determining the properties of the final composite and product. The preform formation process provides precise control of the fiber architecture and orientation using a suitable textile manufacturing technique. While the techniques employed for preparing glass and carbon preforms are well-known, there is still a gap in understanding on how to prepare natural preforms for composite reinforcements. Multiscale Textile Preforms and Structures for Natural Fiber Composites will bridge this gap by presenting unified knowledge on the relevant preform preparation techniques and resulting fiber architectures. Emphasis is on the structural parameters of each preform and their effect on the final composite properties. This book assembles information and knowledge on natural fiber reinforcement forms, including conventional forms, such as spun yarn, woven, knitted, nonwoven, braided, and comingled. These are illustrated and classified into one-, two-, and three-dimensional reinforcements. This book also includes information on nonconventional preform formation techniques such as unidirectional tapes, pre-impregnated preforms, spread tows, and tailored fiber placement.