International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337

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Review

A comprehensive review on light weight kenaf fiber for automobiles

H.T. Sreenivas a, *, N. Krishnamurthy a, G.R. Arpitha b
a
R&D Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vijaya Vittala Institute of Technology, VTU Yelahanka, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560077, India
b
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Presidency University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560064, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Natural fibers have been used since the dawn of civilization. Customer demand for sustainable products
Received 13 March 2020 and advances in technology has increased due to which the utilization of natural fibers are playing vital
Received in revised form role in application of aerospace, automobile, marine industries etc., whereas natural fibers are exten-
18 April 2020
sively used in automotive industries and aerospace applications. Good amount of research has been
Accepted 6 May 2020
Available online 21 May 2020
directed on natural fibers and related composites to find mechanical, thermal and physical character-
istics. Amongst variety of available natural fibers like bamboo, sisal, cotton, jute, kenaf, coir, industrial
hemp, banana etc., kenaf fibers has been used exclusively in hybrid composites because of its enhancing
Keywords:
Natural fiber
mechanical properties. Therefore, this paper gives an overview on development of kenaf based com-
Kenaf posite by considering various factors like, stacking sequence (layer by layer), volume ratio of fibers to
Composite material matrix, angular orientation of fibers and chemical modification of fiber surface to enhance adhesion of
Development of composite fiber to matrix etc., the mechanical properties and various application of kenaf hybrid composite. Several
Hybrid composite issues related to enhancing the properties of composite are also discussed in order to get sustainable
Mechanical properties hybrid composite.
© 2020 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction Recently, increased application of fiber reinforce composite in

Composites are formed from the combination of various built-in
materials possessing totally different properties with them, when
processed it gives a material with characteristics modified from
individual element [1e4]. Hybrid Composites, multifunctional
structural materials used to produce resourceful materials with
unique properties as required. Many discontinuous segment is
introduced in continual segment to create hybrid composite which
is usually harder, also robust than the continuous segment which is
termed to be as matrix [5e8]. The matrix phase is then classified on
the basis of metal, polymer and ceramic used in the composite. The
reinforced segment may be fibrous in nature or non-fibrous (par-
ticulates), if fibers are derived from plants/any other living species,
they are referred as Natural Fibers [9e11]. These fibers have low
density, hardness and stiffness to weight proportion when con-
trasted with that of synthetic fibers and can be coupled with other
fibers in direction to allow a lighter hybrid composite [12,13].
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sreenivasht88@gmail.com (H.T. Sreenivas).
Peer review under responsibility of Editorial Board of International Journal of
Lightweight Materials and Manufacture.
various industrial sectors, has been centered on durable and
renewable composites. This awareness recognize the complete
assortment of plan and materials positioning from synthetic fiber to
natural fiber, with regard to satisfy the demands of yielding com-
posites in desired properties. Integration of reinforcements like
filament, fillers into composite outfits a way to enhance, improve
the properties of the composite that meet the necessities of most of
the engineering applications in real time [14]. In the majority of
cases, fiber naturally derived from plants are reinforced to obtain
composite which can be used for low strength applications with
low and average load however, with high load most of the com-
posite materials have the tensile and flexural modulus under
100 MPa [15], thus it has limitations. With various combination of
reinforcing phase like synthetic fiber and selecting suitable poly-
mer matrix, the strength parameters can be increased, making the
composite lighter and suitable for strength based applications. Ford
Mondeo in 1996 highlights that the inside car boards are made with
kenaf based composite. Kenaf International gives fiber that is pre-
pared by the supplier to Ford, also the company anticipates the
regular increase in sales for European car makers, as business ends
up incredible with wares and furthermore, the kenaf produce from

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlmm.2020.05.003
2588-8404/© 2020 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337
“KII Automotive Group” are accomplished in meeting necessary
demand [16].
2. Morphology of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)
The morphologies of natural fibers were shown in Figs. 1-4
[17-23].Kenaf sapling relates to Malvaceae family with binomial
name Hibiscus cannabinus. It is a yearly yield of couple of na-
tions, largely cultivated in South Asian vicinity. It grows up to
1.5 m tall at sapling and 3.5 m tall with wooded base, stems are of
1e2 cm in drag. The plant leaves are of 10e15 cm extended,
different in shape. Flower head are 8e15 cm, yellow, pastel white
or supreme purple in composition, when the flower petals are
white/yellow, the center is bright purple as shown in Fig. 4(c).
The fruit of plant is 2 cm in diameter, keeping few seeds in pulp.
Kenaf bast has greater flexural strength combined with its
outstanding tensile strength which makes it the fiber of selection
for a large range of products [15]. Kenaf fibers separated from the
bast of the plant [17] and the morphology is obtained as in Fig. 1
(b), containing cell wall, Lumen in Fig. 2 showing sectional view
captured from transmission electron micrograph. Kenaf stalk has
inward woody center joined by an outside fibrous bark encom-
passing core of stalk. Fiber found from external fibrous bark is
referred to as bast fibers as in Fig. 4 (d) [18] (see Fig. 3).
The above Table 1 [16,24] gives an overview on types of fiber and
chemical composition in each stage of fiber derived from kenaf
plant.
Different staged experimental values of Kenaf for 90 days and
150 days is tabulated in the Table 2 [23].
Comparison Table 3 [1e10] for the properties of kenaf fiber
comparing with other cellulose and synthetic fibers.
3. Features of fiber reinforced composite processing
Manufacturing Technique adopted to laminate hybrid compos-
ite plays a vital role in altering the property of composite laminate
[25]. During the process various constrains such as pressure, tem-
perature and processing time are involved in order to obtain a
desirable laminate. Various process are available in order to prepare
polymer composite [11]. Despite the fact that the natural fibers hold
extraordinary properties, they also come with some limitations
like, low thermal stability, higher dampness, variations in quality
and poor adhesion with polymeric matrix. The most suitable
Fig. 1. Natural fiber structure and microstructural organization.
329
method followed is to chemically treat fibers to order improve the
adherence of polymer on to the surface of fiber, advance the
strength, water absorption resistant and to improve their com-
posite property. Amongst different chemical modifications process,
treatment of fibers with alkali is commonly adopted surface alter-
ation method [26]. Different processes are used to obtain composite
laminates as listed as shown in the Table 3. Property of the laminate
can also be altered altering the percentage or volume of rein-
forcement and matrix [23], Rule of mixture, stacking sequence of
the lamina prepared [15], orientation of the fibers [27], adding filler
particles [9] and the weave pattern (wrap & weft) [15].
3.1. Fiber orientation
The behavior of composite depends upon the direction in which
the load is applied. Unidirectional composites has extreme strength
of considerable number of composite for a load aligned with the
fibers, in other directions their strength reduces drastically and
depend on matrix material. For bidirectional composites, ultimate
strength is low, but occurs in two unique directions. Since the di-
rection of the fibers turn out to be more statistically diversified
throughout the composite, decrease in ultimate strength, where
the properties are consistent in all stacking/loading directions as in
Fig. 5 (1,2) [28].
3.2. Fiber content
The fiber content or fiber volume has a vital role in final prop-
erties of the composites. Young's modulus for the Composites can
be calculated by “Rule of mixtures' i.e. EC ¼ EF VF þ EM VM, also
(VM þ VF) ¼ 1 or VM ¼ (1 - VF)” [18]. The elastic modulus along
with fiber can be controlled through choosing volume percentage
of the fiber. The quality of the composite builds almost relatively
with fiber content as in Fig. 6.
3.3. Fiber woven fabric
Different structures and kinds of woven textiles are often pro-
duced on required mechanical properties and application condi-
tions. The main types of woven textiles are plain weaves, basket
weaves, Twill weaves, quasi unidirectional, hybrid, long shaft satin
weaves or harness weaves, and tri-axial weaves as in Fig. 7. Woven
textiles can be 2-D or 3-D as shown in the Fig. 8 (weft and wrap).
330 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337
Fig. 2. Ultra-thin section of kenaf fibers from transmission electron micrograph of (a) Ultra-thin cell wall structure of Kenaf bast fiber showing Lumen (L) and Cell wall (CW) (b)
Kenaf core fiber transverse section (c) Kenaf Bast fiber transverse section [21].
Fig. 3. Cultivation of Kenaf [22].
M Rajesh et al. [15], work focuses on “Mechanical conduct of
woven normal fiber with impact of weave design, hybridization on
intra-ply and stacking of fiber mat”. Basket weaved fabric has more
exaggerated properties contrasted with plain weave texture. Four
layered composite overlay displayed better properties contrasted
with that of sequencing of layers.
4. Mechanical properties of kenaf based hybrid polymer bio
composites
The fiber, type of resin, structure, fabrication procedure, lami-
nate composition and load type influences the properties of the
hybrid composite structure [29,30]. By varying reinforcement and
matrix phase, various combinational laminates are obtained and
studied for its properties. Neng Sri Suharty et al. [31], utilized kenaf
as a reinforcement parameter recycled with polypropylene resin,
upon which an increase in tensile strength up to 18%, flexural
strength up to 28%, 27% of impact toughness was noticed which
showed frightful increment in composite properties by reinforcing
kenaf. Suhad D Salman et al. [29], found that, use of Kenaf/Kevlar
plain weaved hybrid composite, tensile strength was improved and
showed ordinary stiffness and non-performance to strain charac-
teristics. A. Atiqah et al. [30], procured kenaf and glass fiber with
polyester reinforced composite and processed it by holding volume
fraction of 70:30 proportion for treated and untreated fibers. The
composite was experimented for tensile, flexural and izod impact
properties which shows 15% treated composite laminate show-
cased the best results in all the categories. The individual kenaf
fiber (30% volume) or high percentage can't avoid the more impact
load leading to brittle and lower toughness in the composite [32].
Davoodi et al. [33], concentrated on mechanical properties of a
hybrid glass/kenaf/epoxy composite for application in car
(bumper). When compared with GMT (Glass Mat Thermoplastic) of
car bumper, impact strength was still inferior compared to the
desirable value. Impact property can be improved by varying
thickness, beam curvature and material advancement. Veena
Dinesh et al. [34], focuses on study of tensile, toughness, flexural
property of “Kenaf/Hemp/E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites”
with varied stacking sequence. It was noticed that Kenaf-E-Glass-
Hemp combination of fibers got the highest hardness value out of
the three ratios which was experimented. Tensile and flexural
values were more in Hemp-E-glass-Hemp combination, contrib-
uting around 5.8% and 16.6% higher than that of other combinations
of composite. Farid Bajuri et al. [35], discussed on compression and
flexural property of the hybrid Kenaf/Silica Nano-particles in epoxy
composites. Varying the hydrophobic silica Nano-particle induced
in the composite shows some effect on mechanical property,
 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337 331

Fig. 4. Kenaf- Hibiscus cannabinus [23].

Table 1 however 2% silica composite gave best compression and flexural

Kenaf Fiber types and its Chemical configuration [16,24]. properties comparatively. Masud S. Huda et al. [36], focused on
Kenaf Core Kenaf Bast Kenaf (Core þ Bast)
evaluation of thermal, mechanical properties for polylactic acid
matrix based kenaf composite where the laminate was processed
Lignin % 19.2 14.7 21.2
by using compression molding technique by film-stacking pro-
Alpha-cellulose % 49 55 53.8
Holocellulose % 87.2 86.8 87.7 cedure. On observation chemically treated kenaf fiber by using
Ash % 1.9 5.4 4 silane and alkali treatment improved the thermal and mechanical
Extractive % 4.7 5.5 6.4 property of composite due to improved adherence amongst matrix
Fiber length (mm) 0.6 2.6 1.28
and fiber. Mohd Suhairil Meon et al. [37] discussed on short kenaf
Fiber diameter (microns) 30 30 e
fibers treated by varying the percentage of sodium hydroxide (3%,

Table 2
Experimental data on kenaf cultivation in Togo (2002) [23],

Plant diameter (cm) Plant height (cm) Report mass Fibers rate of dry bark (%) Dry stalk yield (t/half year) Dry fibers yield
Stem bark/wood (t/half year)

Precocious Kenaf (90 days) 1 213 35/65 55 12 2.4

Late Kenaf (150 days) 2 270 36/64 56 18 3.6

Table 3
Comparison of the properties of kenaf fiber with various natural fibers with synthetic fibers [1e10].

Fiber name Density (kg/m3) Diameter (mm) Tensile strength (MPa) Tensile modulus (GPa) % Elongation

Kenaf 1400 81 250 4.3 4e5

Oil palm 0.7e1.55 150e500 80e248 0.5e3.2 17e25
Piassava 1.4 e 134e143 1.07e4.59 7.8e21.9
PALF 0.8e1.6 20e80 180e1627 1.44e82.5 1.6e14.5
Ramie 1.0e1.55 20e80 400e1000 24.5e128 1.2e4.0
Cotton 1600 e 287e597 5.5e12.6 3e10
Ramie 1500 e 220e938 44e128 2e3
Flax 1500 e 345e1500 27.6e80 1.2e3.2
Hemp 1480 e 550e900 70 1.6
Jute 1460 e 393e800 10e30 1.5e1.8
Sisal 1450 50e300 227e400 9e20 2e14
Pineapple leaf 1440 20e80 413e1627 34.5e82.5 0.8e1
Banana 1350 80e250 529e759 8.20 1e3.5
Coir 1150 100e460 108e252 4e6 15e40
Root 1150 100e650 157 6.2 3
Palymyrah 1090 70e1300 180e215 7.4e604 7e15
Date 990 e 309 11.32 2.73
Bamboo 910 e 503 35.91 1.4
Agave 1.20 126e344 e e e
Henequen 1.20 e 430e570 11.1e16.3 3.7e5.9
Bagasse 1.25 200e400 290 11 e
Curaua 1.40 170 158e729 e 5
E-glass 2.55 <17 3400 73 3.4
S-glass 2.5 e 4580 85 4.6
Aramid 1.4 11.9 300 124 2.5
332 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337
Fig. 5. (a) Fiber orientation and (b) property of composite along fiber orientation [28].
Fig. 6. Strength of composite with fiber content/volume fraction [28].
6% and 9%) to increase tensile property of composite. Combination
of fiber and maleated poly propylene as well as kenaf fiber together
with maleated polyethylene composites were obtained, tested for
tensile characteristics. The alkali treated short fiber (6%) showed
improved results in tensile property as compared with untreated
short kenaf fibers. Nur Kamarliah Kamardin et al. [38], focused on
obtaining tensile strength, impact toughness by varying kenaf
powder percentage in Kevlar/polypropylene composite. Higher
tensile property is obtained for 30% kenaf powder based composite,
further the Kevlar mat was added with kenaf powder poly-
propylene composite which showed an incremental result in
impact strength and tensile characteristics. Mohd Hafiz Zamri et al.,
[39], studied the compression, flexural characteristics through fiber
bundle tensile test, for pultruded kenaf/unsaturated polyester
composite on different fiber yarn tex sizes “tex 1400, tex 2200 and
tex 3300”. Result showed, smaller tex number of kenaf i.e. Tex 1400
yarn with 70% of volume fraction gave maximum compression and
characteristics. M. Zampaloni et al. [40], concentrated on thermo-
forming of kenaf/polypropylene composite. Fiber volume of 30%,
40% of weight proven to give satisfactory reinforcement. Utilization
of coupling agent, 3% of Epolene empowered the effective fiber &
matrix attachment. Compression moulded kenaf hybrid composite
has predominant tensile and flexural strength as contrasted with
other compression moulded natural fiber composites like coir, jute,
sisal reinforced thermo-plastics. A. M. Mohd Edeerozey et al. [41],
refers to chemically treated kenaf fiber, treating it with various
percentage of NaOH solution (3%, 6% and 9%) and 6% with water
bath, it showed that 9% NaOH solution treatment provided the clear
surface to the fiber, but when treated with 6% NaOH solution it gave
the best fiber tensile result as compared to other concentration.
Thus 9% NaOH solution treatment was very strong which spoiled
the fiber surface, thus resulting in low tensile strength. A. Elsaid
et al. [42], concentrated on mechanical features of kenaf concrete.
The fiber 1.2% and 2.4% of volume were used in the mixture and
tested for various properties but concentrated on compressive
strength & modulus. Increased values in toughness of composite
concrete was noted as compared with the plain concrete mix due to
better attachment of kenaf fibers and the matrix used. B. F. Yousif
et al. [43], studied on treated, untreated kenaf/epoxy composite
flexural properties. In this work the 6% NaOH solution was
considered for the treatment of fiber which improved surface
characteristics which helps in adhesion with matrix leading to
increased flexural property of composite with comparison to un-
treated kenaf composite. Shinichi Shibata et al. [44], studied on
flexural property of bio based kenaf composite with biodegradable
resin (corn starch base). The work indicated that increase in fiber
content up to 60% flexural modulus was improved and reduced
with higher fiber content due to lacking resin in the composite.
5. Economy and potential application of kenaf fibers
The price of kenaf fiber (0.55US$/kg) when compared with
synthetic fibers like E glass (3.25US$/kg) and carbon (200 US$/kg)
and S. steel (30US$/kg) is very low [45]. One of the most remarkable
innovation of kenaf reinforced polymer composites is the easiness
of processing with both types of biopolymer and polymer matrices
[46e50]. Besides that, kenaf reinforced polymer composites have
huge possibility and potential as an alternative to the current
composite, particularly in industrialized applications such as
automobile & aerospace (high performance components, interior-
exterior panels and gas tanks), construction (building section and
structural panels), food packaging (plastic carrier, wrapping films
and containers), and electrical and electronics (printed circuit
 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337 333

Fig. 7. Different types of woven fabrics: hybrid and uni-directional [28].

Fig. 8. Weft and Wrap directional weave (a) 3D fabric-angle interlocked and its cross-section (b) modified woven fabric-layer-to-layer and its cross-section. Weft, warp yarns, binder
and additional are colored blue, pink, purple respectively.
334 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337
Table 4
Summary of Fabrication processes adopted to obtain composite laminate.
Hybrid Fiber Resin/Matrix
Pineapple/Glass/Sisal Polyester
Glass/Kenaf fibers Polyester
Kenaf/Banana fibers Polyester
Pineapple/Kenaf fibers HDPE
Sisal/Aramid fibers Phenolic resin
Hemp, Flax and Jute Polypropylene
Glass/Carbon fibers Epoxy
Kenaf/Kevlar fibers [6] Epoxy
HDPE: high-density polyethylene.
boards and other integrated circuit components) due to their low
cost and lightweight property [28,51e55] (see Table 4).
5.1. Automotive applications of kenaf fibers
One of the major reasons why plastics are increasingly been
utilized in the locomotive industry is to substitute heavier ma-
terials like magnesium, copper and steel and to have a light
weighted vehicles for better efficiency [56,57]. Besides that,
automotive makers also considering into selecting the utmost
resource-efficient plastics (i.e. bio-based plastics) for better
feasible and less environmental impact. This resulted to reduc-
tion of greenhouse gas emission of CO2 and energy efficiency
usages. In addition, it is estimate that over the year there are
several million automotive vehicles approaching their end of
useful live. Although some of the components can be recycled,
however approximately, 25e40% of the automotive weight (fiber
and plastic) remains as waste in landfills [58]. As maximum
components were fabricate from non-biodegradable materials
composites for example polystyrene, polypropylene (PP) and
polyethylene (PE) & glass fiber, they stand difficult to use again
because of having variable levels of contamination. These phe-
nomena would results in toxic release that may have risks to
environment. Therefore, combination of bio-based materials for
automotive works can help in diminishing negative impact on
environment during automotive production. The utilization of
bio-based resources has several potential advantages for green-
house gas emission and other ecological influences over whole
life cycles and in the use of renewable sources, instead of finite
resources [59,60]. Average total weight of polymer materials in a
modern car's body is about 100e150 kg. Hence, the primary aims
behind the increasing demand of bio composites in automotive
components are, (1) To improve design flexibility for easier
assembling/disassembling of automotive parts, (2) To reduce
carbon dioxide emission from automotive which contains carbon,
(3) Reduction of weight in cars for reasonable fuel consumption,
and (4) Minimalize the dependence on non-renewable resources
such as petroleum-based plastics [61]. The plastic parts of auto-
motive vehicle can be classified into 4 main parts, namely, (1)
Structural parts and fuel systems, (2) Interior trims, (3) Under-
the-hood applications, and (4) External parts. Moreover, plastic
materials are also present on “hidden” automotive part (i.e.
sealers, paintings, coatings, adhesives, vanishes as well as elec-
tronics and electrical components. Begin with Europe, later in
North America, natural fiber based polymer composites were
introduced in lot of vehicles to produce automotive parts like
seat backs, dashboards, package trays, trunk liners, door panels,
and other interior trim units [62]. Formerly (1960s), coir fibers
were used for the first time in car seats. After several spans, coir
fibers gained popularity and were continuously used in head
restraints, back pads & seat bottoms [63,64]. Remarkably, kenaf
Manufacturing methods Reference
Hydraulic press [11]
Hand lay-up with Cold press
Hydraulic compression molding
Mixing and Compression
Molding
Stirring, Drying followed with compression
Hydraulic press
Hand lay-up
Hand lay-up technique with hydraulic cold press [29]
fiber has an economical asset to coir fiber and utilization of the
latter has progressively accelerated over the years. Kenaf fiber
also revealed alike or even enhanced mechanical properties (i.e.
tensile strength & modulus), physical properties (i.e. moisture
content, density) related to various other natural fibers (i.e.
bagasse, pineapple, coir, etc.) utilized as a filler material in
polymer based composites for automotive parts [65,66].
Advanced applications of natural fiber based polymer composites
are growing rapidly in all sectors particularly more focused on
automotive engineering field as shown in Table 5. Besides, the
increasing response for the advanced materials with personal-
ized physical and mechanical properties, makes the kenaf fiber,
the most attractive natural fiber for high-performance applica-
tion. Prior study carried by Yang et al. [67], indicates reduction in
25% vehicle weight narrates to a reduction of 250 million barrels
of crude oil consumption per annum. Besides that, car companies
in Brazil, like General Motors, Ford, Honda and Volkswagen are
already in use of natural fiber (i.e. jute, hemp, kenaf etc.) bio
composite for their car seats, roofs, dashboard coverings and
trunk lids [68e70]. Remarkably, General Motors used kenaf and
flax based hybrid polymer composites in door panel and package
trays to substitute synthetic fiber in its Saturn L300 and
European-market Opel Vectra. Currently in Malaysia, local auto-
motive company such as Perodua and Proton utilized kenaf based
polymer composites in automotive trim constituents such as
seatbacks, package tray, door panels and headliners. Kenaf has
huge prospective to be commercially manufactured into various
bio composites for automotive parts [71]. Furthermore to it, ad-
vances in kenaf fiber reinforced bio-based polymer composites
could offer completely biodegradable & renewable composites
for next generation automaker. In addition, usage of kenaf fiber,
bio based polymer and their bio composites in the automotive
company would (1) Reduce dependency on fossil fuel such as
petroleum, decreases greenhouse gas emission through a better
Carbon dioxide balance over the vehicle's lifetime, (2) Give a
positive influence on local kenaf farmers, and (3) Enrich envi-
ronmental excellence by developing ecological resource supply
chain considerably [72e74].
5.2. Other applications
Till date, many works on natural fiber reinforced polymer
composite for ballistic-resistant bio composites [76] has predomi-
nantly focused on vehicle protection, structural protection and
personal body armor. There is a huge volume of published studies
describing the role of kenaf fiber based polymer composites [73].
One study from Yahaya et al. [27] describes chemical treatments
effect and layering sequence on mechanical properties of treated
woven kenaf/aramid/epoxy hybrid laminated bio composites for
ballistic application. The outcomes displayed that hybrid bio com-
posites of kenaf fiber with Kevlar on outer layers showed improved
 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337 335

Table 5
Application of Natural Fiber Polymer Composite (NFPC) in automotive industry [75].

Country Manufacturers Automobile Model Applications in automobile

e Saturn L300 Door panel, Package trays

e Trucks Engine insulation, interior insulation, bumper, Internal engine cover, sun visor, wheel box, and
roof cover
France Peugeot 406 Seat backs, parcel shelf, Front and rear door panels
France Citroen C3 Picasso, C5 Parcel shelves, boot linings, door panels, interior door paneling, and mud guards
Germany Opel Astra, Zafira, Vectra Pillar cover panel, Door panels, head-liner panel, and instrumental panel
Germany Volkswagen Passat Variant, Golf, A4, Seat back, door panel, boot-lid finish panel, and boot-liner
Bora
Germany Audi A2, A3, A4, A4Avant, A6, Boot-liner, side and back door panel, spare tire-lining, seat back, and hat rack
A8, Roadstar, Coupe
Germany Daimler Chrysler A, C, E, and S class, Pillar cover panel, door panels, car windshield/car dashboard, and business table
EvoBus (exterior)
Germany BMW 3, 5 and 7 series and Noise insulation panels, Seat back, headliner panel, boot-lining, door panels, and moulded foot
other Pilot well linings
Germany Mercedes Benz C, S, E, and A classes Door panels (flax/wood/sisal fibers with epoxy resin/UP matrix), instrument panel support,
insulation (cotton fiber), glove box (cotton fibers/wood moulded, flax/sisal), molding rod/
apertures, seat backrest panel (cotton fiber), seat surface/backrest (coconut fiber/natural rubber)
and trunk panel (cotton with PP/PET fibers)
Italy Fiat Alfa Romeo 146, 156, Door panel
159, Punto, Brava,
Marea
Japan Toyota ES3 Pillar garnish and other interior parts
Japan Mitsubishi Fiat SpA Floor mats, indoor cladding, seat back linings, cargo area floor, door panels, instrumental panel,
and floor panels
United Kingdom Rover 2000 and others Rear storage shelf/panel, and insulations
United Kingdom Lotus Eco Elise (July Body panels, spoiler, seats, and interior carpets
2008)
United Kingdom Vauxhall Corsa, Astra, Vectra, Headliner panel, interior door panels, pillar cover panel, and instrument panel
Zafira
United States General Motors Cadillac De Ville, Seat backs, cargo area floor mat
Chevrolet Trail Blazer
United States Volvo V70, C70 Seat padding, natural foams, cargo floor tray, dash boards and ceilings
United States Ford Mondeo CD 162, Focus Floor trays, door inserts, door panels, B pillar, and boot-liner

mechanical properties as related to the other sequencing com-
posite. Yahaya et al. [77] reported their research works focused on
mechanical & ballistic properties of woven KenafeKevlar rein-
forced epoxy hybrid bio composites. The result from experiment
shows that, increase in kenaf fiber volume, decreases ballistic
property of the hybrid bio composites.
Common method to make paper from kenaf fiber is by using
soda pulping before processing the attained pulp in a paper ma-
chine. The utilization of kenaf in pulp and paper production has
resolved several solutions especially over manufacturing paper
from trees. Surprisingly, in 1960's the USDA selected kenaf fiber as
most promising source of tree-free newsprint over 500 other
plants. Then in 1970, International Paper Company's mill located in
Pine Bluff, Arkansas produced kenaf newsprint, and successfully
utilized by six U.S. newspapers. Again in 1987, a Canadian mill
produced kenaf newsprint to be used by U.S. newspapers [78]. The
reasons of using kenaf fiber for paper production are because of
excellent properties of kenaf paper which are stronger, brighter and
produced cleaner pages as well as less detriment to environment
compared to standard pine paper. Kenaf fibers are naturally white
compared to tree pulp, thus less bleaching treatment is need to
create a brighter sheet of paper.
Kenaf fiber has found to be a significant source fiber for
composites and other industrial based applications. Kenaf dis-
plays non-abrasiveness during processing, also biodegradability,
low density, and high specific mechanical properties [79e82]. In
recent times, kenaf fiber is used as a natural resource for pulp
and paper industries for alternative to wood. This is done to
prevent cutting down trees in the forest. Kenaf fiber also used as
non-woven mats in the automotive industries, fiberboard, &
textiles. Besides that, kenaf has been described to have excellent
tensile and flexural strength that makes it as the material of
selection for a wide range of products as discussed by other
authors. Recently, a lot of effort has been put to commercialize
kenaf fiber for various applications [83e86]. Currently, the use of
kenaf has exceeded the traditional application into a more
particular and commercial usage such as sport, food packaging,
particleboard, Medium Density Fiber board (MDF), wood plastic
composite (WPC), non-woven materials, pultruded products,
composite chair and table, paper production, textile, furniture,
animal feeds, a platform for mushroom farming, medicine, etc.
[87e90].
6. Conclusions
Kenaf, a well-known Malaysian crop has started drawing
attention and interest in the recent decades because to its divergent
applications and its enhancing mechanical properties obtained
from hybridizing with synthetic and other natural fiber. Modifica-
tion in properties of the composite depend upon growing and
climate conditions of the crop. According to the research work
carried on kenaf based polymer composites, increased tensile,
flexural strength & modulus, impact & thermal behavior of hybrid
composite has studied and discussed in the paper. Varying several
parameters like processing method, temperature, chemical treat-
ment of fiber, orientation of fibers, stacking sequence, volume
fraction of fibers and weave pattern effectively influenced the
properties of composite. Thus kenaf has been influencing many
researchers to work on kenaf based hybrid composite. Various in-
dustries have adopted kenaf hybrid polymer composite for their
applications. The overall view of the work carried out by several
researchers quoted that, optimum fiber content of fiber-reinforced
composites showed the best properties and for exceeding fiber
content, mechanical properties of the composite has diminished.
336 H.T. Sreenivas et al. / International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 3 (2020) 328e337
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing
financial interests or personal relationships that could have
appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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