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A review on the effect of fiber treatment and fillers on mechanical properties of kenaf fiber–reinforced composites

  • Makeshkumar Mani EMAIL logo , Sasi Kumar Mani , Felix Sahayaraj Arockiasamy , Gokulkumar Sivanantham and Jenish Iyyadurai
Published/Copyright: August 26, 2025
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 40 Issue 4

Abstract

Nowadays, fiber-reinforced composites have gained attention due to their potential to replace conventional materials in numerous applications. Researchers have shown considerable interest in using natural fiber–based composites for structural applications in the building, aerospace, defense, military, and automotive sectors. These materials possess unique characteristics that enhance their appeal. Kenaf fiber has become a preferred reinforcement material for composites due to its rapid growth in various climatic conditions and economic viability. It is increasingly recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to glass fiber composites. To enhance the performance of composites, researchers have found that the use of filler materials and chemical treatments significantly improve the mechanical characteristics and reduce the organic content in composite laminates. This study provides an overview of various chemical treatments that have been studied for kenaf fiber, the mechanical properties, and the applications of kenaf fiber in various fields. It explores the impact of chemical treatments on the surface of kenaf fiber and the mechanical properties of the composites created with various amounts of natural and synthetic fillers.

Keywords: kenaf fiber; mechanical properties; scanning electron microscopic; chemical treatment; fillers
Corresponding author: Makeshkumar Mani, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641407, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors thank KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore for providing the facility support to complete this research work.

  1. Research ethics: Ethics approval was not applicable for this article.

  2. Informed consent: Consent approval was not applicable for this article.

  3. Author contributions: M. Makeshkumar-conceptualization Visualization M. Sasi Kumar- Writing, Data Collection Felix Sahayaraj-conceptualization S. Gokulkumar-Software I. Jenish-Supervision.

  4. Conflict of interests: The authors do not have any conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper in this journal.

  5. Research funding: The authors have not claimed any funding for this study. All data are interpreted in this paper and have not been discussed in any of the existing journals.

  6. Data availability: All the data were included within the article.

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Received: 2025-01-23
Accepted: 2025-07-21
Published Online: 2025-08-26
Published in Print: 2025-09-25

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review Articles
  3. A review on industrial optimization approach in polymer matrix composites manufacturing
  4. A review on the effect of fiber treatment and fillers on mechanical properties of kenaf fiber–reinforced composites
  5. Research Articles
  6. Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres using poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) as a suspending agent
  7. Medical grade polypropylene after artificial aging in regard to the VOC emissions
  8. Optimal performance of poly-hybrid nanocomposites promoted with carbon fibers and nano silicon carbide particles via compression associated with hot pressing: characterization study
  9. Spectroscopic analysis of silicone intraocular lenses by optical transmission measurements and FTIR
  10. Preparation and properties of biodegradable antibacterial polylactic acid/modified chitin antibacterial agent composites
  11. Impact of domain knowledge on developing pumping models for single-screw extruders using symbolic regression
  12. Calibrator modelling in the simulation of extrusion process
  13. Strength and thermophysical properties of polylactide-few-layer graphene composites
https://doi.org/10.1515/ipp-2025-0006
Keywords for this article
kenaf fiber; mechanical properties; scanning electron microscopic; chemical treatment; fillers

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review Articles
  3. A review on industrial optimization approach in polymer matrix composites manufacturing
  4. A review on the effect of fiber treatment and fillers on mechanical properties of kenaf fiber–reinforced composites
  5. Research Articles
  6. Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres using poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) as a suspending agent
  7. Medical grade polypropylene after artificial aging in regard to the VOC emissions
  8. Optimal performance of poly-hybrid nanocomposites promoted with carbon fibers and nano silicon carbide particles via compression associated with hot pressing: characterization study
  9. Spectroscopic analysis of silicone intraocular lenses by optical transmission measurements and FTIR
  10. Preparation and properties of biodegradable antibacterial polylactic acid/modified chitin antibacterial agent composites
  11. Impact of domain knowledge on developing pumping models for single-screw extruders using symbolic regression
  12. Calibrator modelling in the simulation of extrusion process
  13. Strength and thermophysical properties of polylactide-few-layer graphene composites
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