Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites in industrial applications: feasibility of date palm fibers for sustainable automotive industry

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2014-03, Vol.66, p.347-354
• Main Authors: AL-Oqla, Faris M., Sapuan, S.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Automotive industry; Bio-based composites; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Date palm fibers; Environment and sustainable development; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial sustainability; Natural fibers; Pollution; Waste utilization; Wastes
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.050

Proper utilization of the available natural resources and wastes became crucial for developing sustainability in industry. In this work, the feasibility of using the date palm fibers in the natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFC) for automotive industry was reported. Moreover, this work identifies a gap in the way of evaluating NFC relative to comprehensive desired criteria. This gap leads to disregard potential natural fiber types in industrial applications and keep it no more than an environmental waste problem. Here, criteria that affect the NFC were categorized and classified into levels. Governing criteria were suggested, collected and tabulated according to each level. To ensure the potential and competitiveness of the date palm fiber (DPF) in developing sustainability of the automotive industry, several comparisons between DPF and other fiber types commonly used in this industry were carried out. In most comparisons, DPF was the best selected fiber among all other types. DPF was the best regarding specific Young's modulus to cost ratio criterion. Technical properties and performance, environmental, economical, and societal aspects strongly contribute toward adopting DPF into the automotive sector to improve its sustainability and productivity. Furthermore, this adoption has a significant environmental influence throughout achieving an efficient sustainable waste management practice. •Criteria for evaluating NFC were categorized and classified into levels.•Comprehensive evaluation of NFC leads to better utilization of natural wastes.•DPF is feasible economic alternative for sustainable automotive industry.•Adopting DPF in automotive industry can solve environmentally waste problem issue.•DPF is the best regarding specific Young's modulus to cost ratio criterion.