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Natural Fiber Composites

Emerging Trends and Applications

  • 1st Edition - October 3, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: P. Senthamaraikannan, Indran Suyambulingam, Vijay Raghunathan
  • Language: English

Natural Fiber Composites: Emerging Trends and Applications discusses the properties and applications of plant fibers used as reinforcements in composite materials. Additi… Read more

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Description

Natural Fiber Composites: Emerging Trends and Applications discusses the properties and applications of plant fibers used as reinforcements in composite materials. Additionally, potential applications of plant fiber-reinforced composites across industries are discussed in detail via practical case study examples, along with recent developments in testing and fabrication. Valuable insights into sophisticated surface modification methods that aim to optimize composite performance by enhancing fiber-matrix adhesion are also covered. In addition to discussing challenges and optimization strategies, this book will be a valuable reference resource, giving readers (researcher and engineer) the knowledge required to fabricate environmentally sustainable composite materials that exhibit superior performance.

Key features

  • Provides an in-depth analysis on the chemical, mechanical, thermal, crystalline, and surface morphological properties of sustainable plant fibers and their use as reinforcement in composite materials
  • Covers a variety of physical, chemical, and biological surface treatment techniques
  • Investigates the utility of plant-based materials as bio-fillers/bio-plasticizers for composite applications
  • Covers Lifecycle Assessment, environmental impacts, sustainability, and the economic viability of substituting plant fibers for synthetic materials in composite manufacturing

Readership

Academic and industrial researchers, materials scientists and engineers, industrial R&D, manufacturers, polymer chemists, and other professionals working in the development of natural fiber-reinforced composite materials and their related applications

Table of contents

1. Overview of Sustainable Materials and their Importance

2. Classification of Plant Fibers

3. Sourcing, Cultivation and extraction methods of Plant Fibers

4. Characterization of Plant Fibers

5. Surface Modification Approaches for plant fibers to enhance Fiber-Matrix Interaction

6. Reinforcement Types and their Influence on Composite Properties

7. Selecting Matrix Materials for Polymer Composite Fabrication: Criteria and Considerations

8. Fabrication Methods for Plant Fiber Reinforced Composites

9. Hybridization Strategies for Enhanced Performance in Plant Fiber Composites: Techniques and Applications

10. Mechanical Testing of Plant Fiber reinforced composites

11. Exploring Plant Fiber as Reinforcement for Friction Composites: Feasibility and Potential Application

12. Flammability Assessment of Plant Fiber Reinforced Composites: Characteristics and Behavior

13. Plant Fiber Reinforced Geotextiles: Advancements in Eco-Friendly Soil Reinforcement

14. Plant Fiber Composites as Construction and Building Materials: Properties, Performance, and Sustainability

15. Applications of Sustainable Plant Fiber Composites in acoustic materials

16. Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Fabricating Plant Fiber Reinforced Composites

17. Usage of artificial intelligence for composite failure analysis

18. Environmental Impact and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Plant Fiber Composites

19. Recycling and End-of-Life Management of Plant Fiber Composites

20. Economic Feasibility and Market Analysis of Plant Fiber Composites

21. Standards and Regulations for Plant Fiber Composites

22. Health and Safety Considerations in the Use of Plant Fiber Composites

23. Case Studies and Real-world Applications of Plant Fiber Composites

24. Future Trends and Challenges in Plant Fiber Composite Research

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: November 1, 2026
  • Language: English

About the editors

PS

P. Senthamaraikannan

Dr. P. Senthamaraikannan is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Alliance College of Engineering and Design, Alliance University. He received his B.E in Mechanical Engineering from Pandiyan Saraswathi Yadav Engineering College (2013) and M.E in Engineering Design from PTR College of Engineering and Technology (2015). He obtained his Ph.D. in the field of natural fibers and their composites from Anna University (2023). He has been listed in the Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide – Report released by Elsevier PV and Standford University, USA, under single year citations since 2020. His research areas include Natural fiber characterization, Polymer Matrix Composites, and Lean Manufacturing.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering at KSR Institute for Engineering and Technology, Thiruchencode, Tamil Nadu, India

IS

Indran Suyambulingam

Dr. Indran Suyambulingam is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Alliance College of Engineering and Design, Alliance University. Previously, he worked as a Research Scientist with the Natural Composites Research Group at King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand. Recognized among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University and ranked 20th in Materials category in 2022, Dr. Indran earned his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering (2009), M.E. in Engineering Design (Gold Medal, 2011), and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2015) from Anna University, Chennai, supported by the INSPIRE fellowship from India’s Department of Science and Technology. He is a Life Member of ISTE and a member of IAENG, ISME, and SAE India. Recipient of the Innovative Technological Research & Dedicated Teaching Professional Award (2017), he was also selected as a Young Scientist for a government-sponsored training program. Dr. Indran holds patents in polymer composites and automation. His research focuses on prosthetics, biomaterials, nanocomposites, tribology, agro-waste utilization, and natural fiber composites.

Affiliations and expertise
Research Scientist, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, North Bangkok, Thailand

VR

Vijay Raghunathan

Dr. Vijay Raghunathan is Scientific Researcher at the Department of Materials and Production Engineering (MPE), The Sirindhorn International Thai–German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand. He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering in Computer Integrated Manufacturing from Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2012 and 2014, respectively, with university rank. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Production Engineering from National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India, in 2020. His research focused on developing and characterizing automotive brake friction composites in collaboration with academia and industry worldwide. He completed his postdoctoral research on the tribological behavior of natural fiber-based composites at TGGS, KMUTNB, Thailand, from 2022 to 2023. He was awarded the Budding Researcher Award of the Production Engineering Department in 2020 by National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India. He has published over 83+ articles in various SCI and Scopus-indexed journals. He has published six book chapters, 1 book and 2 Indian patents in his field of research. He has published one book and editing several books for reputed international publishers. He is also Associate Editor for Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology (SAGE Publishers, SCI-E), Frontiers in Materials (Polymeric and Composite Materials Section- SCI-E), Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering (Tribology Section- ESCI, Scopus), and International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Technovation (Scopus). He is an academic editor for Advances in Polymer Technology (Hindawi- Wiley, SCI-E) and PLOS One (Engineering) (SCI-E). He is also an editorial board member for Discover Applied Sciences (Springer, Scopus), Scientific Reports

(Springer, SCI-E), Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science (Taylor and Francis, Scopus), and Journal of Fibers and Polymer Composites (Indexed by Copernicus). He is also the guest editor for various special issues in SCI-E and Scopus journals. He has reviewed many regular and special issue articles. Based on Google Scholar, his citations are 6310+, his H-index is 46, and his i10-Index is 78. His articles received the Best Research Paper Award 2020 from Friction Journal, Springer, and the Top Cited Article award from India in the Materials field by Material Research Express, IOP publishing. Also, many of his other articles are top-cited in various journals. He is recognized by Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier as one of the world’s top 2% of the most cited scientists in single-year citation impact for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. His research areas include Brake Friction Composites, Natural Fiber and its Composites, and Additive Manufacturing.

Affiliations and expertise
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Natural Composites Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering (MPE), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand