Thermal Analysis and Properties of Natural Fiber Composites for a Sustainable Environment

The need for a green economy demands the importance of environment-friendly products for multi-functional needs. It is important to ensure that the composites developed for the future are environmentally friendly and satisfy the needs of the human community. As fiber-reinforced natural composites possess characteristics such as light weight, high molding flexibility, low densities, comparable material properties, and environmentally friendly nature, they will be a promising material for future applications. It is worth addressing the thermal behavior of a biodegradable composite to elaborate on its functions for various product requirements, starting from the stages of preparation until its degradation. This chapter comprehensively explains the importance of thermal properties for natural fiber-based composites, which are regarded as an inevitable part of the sustainable future. The chapter will be detailing on several thermal analytical techniques like thermal mechanical analysis (TMA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermal conductivity (K), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We will also deal with the temperature-dependent characteristics, including cone calorimetry analysis, limited oxygen index (LOI), and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry test (PCFC). Additionally, the chapter focuses on the correlation of thermal analysis with various properties like mechanical, morphological, and rheological characteristics. In addition, the evaluation of the thermal parameters is very crucial for the potential applications of the polymer composites.