Bio-Polymers for Green Composites

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is the description of the main applications of the so-called “Green Composites”, composed by natural fibers, such as hemp and flax, embedded by bio-polymers and the contribution of such materials to the reduction of the environmental pollution. Since the Kyoto Conference at the end of 90’s of the last century, there is higher and higher attention to the concepts of sustainability. The market of composite materials based on synthetic resins and synthetic fibers, such as glass and carbon fibers, is huge. Billions of tons worldwide are used in the fields of civil constructions, marine constructions, sport goods, automotive, aerospace constructions. After a short description of the most interesting biopolymers and natural fibers of interest worldwide, the paper describes the products developed nowadays and future possibilities for more applications, with care to future applications in aeronautical constructions. Copyright © VBRI Press.