PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT USING VEGETABLE FIBERS

This article is a comprehensive review on the mechanical and tribological behavior of four plant fi bers (hemp, kenaf, coconut and broom) and the products design made based on these plant fi bers. The treatments and the chemical and physical characteristics of these types of plant fi bers are investigated to understand the applica-tions in design fi eld. The application of plant fi bers are subject to many scientifi c and research projects, as well as many commercial projects. Data around these fi bers are being collected and analyzed to arrange them and add new value for future applications. In most studies, natural fi bers are used as replacement of traditional fi bers in fi ber-reinforced composites, or in automotive sector, geo textiles and other engineering fi elds. The research carried on is been organized so that mechanical and chemical–physical characteristics of these plant fi bers can be used in conjunction with previous studies, to give a new scenario for design applications. In general, natural fi bers have the advantages of biodegradability, low density, abundance and renewability, non-toxic nature, useful mechanical properties, and low cost. However, the main disadvantages of natural fi bers are (i) the poor compatibility between fi ber and matrix in composites and (ii) the relative high moisture sorption. In addition, the project will improve opportunities for sustainable goods through the development of design, strategies of ecological sustainable products. Paper will outline a possible development of a product, which will be feasible gratefully to the direct application of the results and tests of the tools and methods made through out of the research