A SURVEY OF NATURAL FIBERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS USING THERMOPLASTICS MATRIX

摘要

The new paradigm in automotive industry is preserving the environment and at the same time to be competitive and answer to emerging challenges. Natural fibers contributes to the development of natural products as those referred on this work. Composites reinforced with long fibers, are in general destined to structural applications, and their properties depend mainly of the orientation and fiber configuration. On the mean time, the final properties of the natural fiber composites with short fibers are more unpredictable because there is normal the existence of problems on distribution, different orientation of fibers inside the matrix, that are difficult of control by processing commonly used as extrusion and injection molding of thermoplastic materials.nAs seen, the final properties differ strongly of processing and distribution, but also the previous history of the materials, harvest, part of the fiber and use. All these factors affect the mechanical properties, but fortunately some optimization can be made. Challenges associated with the use of these fibers include the affinity of the fibers for moisture absorption and variable quality of the fibers due to growing conditions. These limitations can be addressed through the application of technologies such as fiber surface treatments, proper selection of resins and additives, and the proper design of fiber lay-up architecture for the fiber reinforcement in composites. Natural fibers can be used as excellent reinforcing materials for low cost composites and are able to satisfy economical as well as ecological interests.