Plant Fiber Composites: Process Engineering and Scale-Up Challenges

This book provides a focused review on five critical aspects of plant fiber composites, each addressed as a separate chapter. Chapter 1. Plant Fiber Preforms It focuses on the transition from raw plants to engineered textiles, non-wovens, and other preforms for composites. Chapter 2. Fabrication of Thermoset Plant Fiber Composites: This chapter covers liquid composite molding (RTM/infusion), pultrusion, and filament winding using different thermoset resins (epoxy or polyester resins). Chapter 3. Fabrication of Thermoplastic Plant Fiber Composites: It covers thermoplastic fabrication techniques including injection molding, thermoforming, and additive manufacturing using biopolymers like PLA, PHAs, or recycled polyolefins. Chapter 4. Processing Challenges and Mitigation Strategies: This chapter provides a critical overview of the processing challenges involved with plant fiber composites (fiber-matrix adhesion, moisture absorption, thermal degradation, etc.) and propose mitigation strategies. Chapter 5. Environmental Degradation and Sustainability: This chapter addresses environmental factors (moisture absorption, temperature, UV stability, etc.), and sustainability aspect of PFC to prove the “green” credentials of the product. The plant fiber composites are in high demand these days, and this book attracts a good readership (students, researchers, and industry professionals).