Page 36 - Template Tesis UTM v2.0

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

Modern innovations, especially for military, aerospace, underwater and

transportation purposes require a typical combination of material properties that
cannot be realised by conventional materials. In recent years, the industry has

attempted to reduce the dependence on petroleum-based fuels and products due to the
increase in environmental consciousness. This leads to the need to investigate

environmentally friendly, sustainable materials to replace existing ones. Natural fibres
have already established a record of accomplishment as reinforcing material with

rapidly increasing environmental awareness and ecological concerns to produce

“green” products. Natural fibres possess distinctive advantages, such as lower energy
consumption of fibre growing to finish composites, a higher level of safety in the case

of manufacturing processes, low density, biodegradability, acceptable specific
properties, better thermal insulating properties, renewable resources and low cost. Due

to environmental and sustainability issues, this century has witnessed remarkable
achievements in green technology through the development of biocomposites. The

development of high-performance materials made from natural resources is increasing

worldwide. Nevertheless, it poses the greatest challenge in working with natural fibres
owing to large variation in properties and characteristics in terms of fibre type,

environmental conditions where the plant fibres are sourced, processing methods and
any modification to the fibre [13].

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