In this review, previous studies about the properties and applications of natural fiber composites in the aerospace and automobile fields will be discussed. Natural fiber composites are a better alternate to the existing artificial fiber composites due to their advantages, e.g. lightweight, cheaper and, most importantly, their environmental aspects and biodegradability. Since ancient times, natural fibers have been used for preparing walls, baskets, ropes, clothes, and many more products. More recently, natural fibers such as jute, kenaf, sisal, hemp, and flax have been used in the engineering production field. Natural fiber composites are used increasingly in the aerospace and automotive industries. Nowadays, natural fiber composites and artificial composites are being compared by researchers to find the most appropriate materials for engineering fields. Researchers are also more focused on natural fibers due to their biodegradability and low production cost. Assessments of the materials used in aircraft parts and panel structures have been made to study the potential of using natural fiber composites instead.

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“Synthetic and Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications” is a recently opened Special Issue (SI) of Materials that focuses on the fundamentals, characterization, and applications of fiber-reinforced polymer composites [...]

Plastics are unavoidable at this times, putting our planet in danger. The Prosopis juliflora (PJ) thorns are collected, processed, and powdered. The mechanical characteristics of these powders are examined when combined with polymer composites. Pores are the main cause of moisture input, hence using powder filler materials reduces the number of pores in the composite, increasing water resistance. The composites are made by altering three parameters: waste plastic content, filler powder composition, and chemical treatment. It was discovered that the integration of thorn powder increased the wear resistance. The composites were tested in accordance with ASTM standards, and the results were optimized. Based on the results, composite specimens were created and tested for validation.