ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on biocomposites produced from natural fibers and bio-resins, specifically using banana fibers and banana sap (BS)-based bio-resin. The use of natural fibers dates back to at least 5500 years ago when ancient Egyptians pressed thin stems of papyrus on which to write. Lignocellulosic fibers pose a major drawback of poor compatibility with commonly used non-polar matrices because of its hydrophilic character resulting in inferior mechanical properties as a result of moisture absorption. The term "bio-resin" refers to a resin that is made of raw materials derived from renewable resources such as plant oil, polysaccharides, and proteins. Although hybrid-fiber-reinforced composites are gaining awareness, the mechanical and physical properties only tentatively reach the characteristic values of glass-fiber-reinforced systems. The production of natural-fiber-reinforced bio-resin composites has drawn tremendous interest due to their versatility, biodegradability, low cost, low density, and significant processing advantages. Natural fiber biocomposites have been used in various industrial and automotive industries.
