Feather Fibers as Natural Reinforcement in Composites : A Review

摘要

In this review, feather fibers have been selected as natural reinforcing agent due to their unique structure which consists of quills, barbs, and barbules. Whole feathers, feather quills, and feather fibers were separately used as reinforcement for lightweight automotive composites. The presence of hollow structures in feathers provide good sound absorption and heat insulation while whole feathers provide better flexural and tensile properties than feather fibers or feather quill reinforced composites. The results from the previous research have been compared in order to gain better understanding about how feather fibers can provide reinforcement to composites.