Abstract:
The need for utilization of environmentally friendly materials has emerged due to environmental
pollution that is caused by non-biodegradable materials. The usage of non-biodegradable
plastics has increased in the past decades in many industries, and, as a result, the generation of nonbiodegradable
plastic wastes has also increased. To solve the problem of non-biodegradable plastic
wastes, there is need for fabrication of bio-based polymers to replace petroleum-based polymers and
provide strategic plans to reduce the production cost of bioplastics. One of the emerging bioplastics
in the market is poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and it has been the biopolymer of choice due to its
biodegradability and environmental friendliness. However, there are some disadvantages associated
with PBS such as high cost, low gas barrier properties, and softness. To lower the cost of PBS and
enhance its properties, natural lignocellulosic fibers are incorporated into the PBS matrix, to form
environmentally friendly composites. Natural fiber-based biocomposites have emerged as materials
of interest in important industries such as packaging, automobile, and construction. The bonding
between the PBS and natural fibers is weak, which is a major problem for advanced applications
of this system. As a result, this review paper discusses various methods that are employed for
surface modification of the Fibers The paper provides an in-depth discussion on the preparation,
modification, and morphology of the natural fiber-reinforced polybutylene succinate biocomposites.
Furthermore, because the preparation as well as the modification of the fiber-reinforced biocomposites
have an influence on the mechanical properties of the biocomposites, mechanical properties of
the biocomposites are also discussed. The applications of the natural fiber/PBS biocomposites for
different systems are also reported.
