Colombian natural fibers: Potential applications in sustainable natural fiber reinforced composites materials

Abstract

Using natural fibers in bio‐based product development offers a promising path toward an environmentally sustainable future. This study aims to characterize natural fibers obtained from food processing companies and artisans across Colombian regions, employing a methodology that can be extended to natural fibers characterization worldwide and supporting research focused on sustainable product development based on natural fibers. The thermal, mechanical, morphological, and surface properties of the fibers were measured using advanced techniques such as dynamic mechanical analysis‐DMA, thermogravimetry‐TGA, computed microtomograph, and 3D‐microscopy. The chemical composition was analyzed using Van Soest methodology and TGA thermogram deconvolution. Thermal characterization reveals that natural fibers start their degradation between 227 and 258°C, defining a safe thermal processing range for natural fiber‐reinforced polymer composites (NFRPC) products. Mechanical properties were measured at temperatures ranging from −50 to 150°C. Among the tested fibers, pineapple leaf fibers, hemp fibers, and toquilla straw exhibited superior mechanical performance up to 100°C suggesting their potential for developing bioproducts across various applications. In contrast, banana and coir coconut fibers showed lower tensile strength and tensile modulus. Surface roughness differs in the longitudinal and transverse directions, suggesting that chambira straw (Ra 0.067 mm), fique fibers (Ra 0.03 mm), and hemp and pineapple leaf fibers (Ra 0.021 mm) may be of interest for further investigation in NFRPC production. This research highlights the progress and challenges in utilizing natural fibers to develop sustainable products. It positively impacts regional economies, drives technological advancements, and expands the potential applications of natural fiber‐reinforced composites.Highlights Novel micro‐CT technique reveals accurate cross‐sectional areas of natural fibers Colombian natural fibers maintain stable tensile properties from −50 to 125°C Toquilla straw shows highest strength‐to‐density ratio among studied fibers Thermal analysis offers rapid verification of natural fiber chemical composition Ashby charts allow comparison of natural fibers and their uses in composites.