Title: Natural bast fibre structure

Authors: D. Ruys, A. Crosky, W.J. Evans

Addresses: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia. ' School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia. ' Interdisciplinary Research Centre Materials for High Performance Applications, University of Wales, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

Abstract: This paper reviews the physical structure of plant bast fibres and its effect on the properties of composites containing bast fibre reinforcement. Natural fibres are competitive with glass fibres in many applications but variability in mechanical properties and low toughness can potentially limit their use in high strength composites. These two issues effects are the result of natural and introduced fibre defects and differences between the properties of fibre bundles and single fibre cells.

Keywords: plant bast fibres; high strength composites; mechanical properties; bast fibre structure; bast fibre reinforcement; natural fibres; fibre defects; fibre bundles; single fibre cells.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2002.001294

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2002 Vol.17 No.1/2, pp.2-10

Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *

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