Processing and properties of jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) fibres and their sustainable composite materials: a review

Abstract

Materials that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly are in demand due to the lack of resources and increasing contamination of the environment. In this case, fibre-reinforced composites (PFRCs) have become alternatives to synthetic fibre-reinforced composites (SFRCs) in many applications. Among the PFRCs, jute fibre-reinforced composites (JFRCs) have attracted attention from researchers and have been industrialized in many fields. This review focuses on the research prospects and challenges in jute plant cultivation, harvesting techniques, structure and properties of jute fibres, the effect of surface modification, fabrication methods, and properties of JFRCs. Furthermore, the structure–property relationships, finite element analysis (FEA), machining characteristics and life-cycle assessment (LCA) of JFRCs are discussed in detail. Also, a summary of the innovations in the field of JFRCs is provided. Finally, considering the promising future of this bio-material, several open questions and ideas for its transformation are discussed. According to the findings from the literature, it can be concluded that jute fibres are potential alternative reinforcing constituents to synthetic fibres.