ABSTRACT
In the last decades, plastic residues have quickly increased their fraction in relation to the total volume of waste because of the short time of use and the long period needed for degradation. The waste disposal problems, as well as strong European regulations for cleaner and safer environment, have oriented a great part of the scientific research to environmentfriendly composite materials [1-4]. This new class of composites is identified as ecocomposites. By definition, ecocomposites contain natural fibers (NF) and different types of polymer matrices. Among polymer matrices, particular attention has been recently devoted to biodegradable polymers [5]. Composite materials constituted by biodegradable polymers and NF are a subclass of ecocomposites, and nowadays they are identified as “green” composites. When biodegradable polymers are obtained from natural sources, the corresponding composites are called biocomposites. Currently, as several biodegradable polymers are available as commercial products, “green” composites represent a subject in the research of materials reinforced with NF.
