**Abstract**

Natural fibers, are environmental friendly, biodegradable, abundantl, renewable and cheap with low density. Plant fibers are light compared to glass, carbon and aramid fibers. The biodegradability of plant fibers contribute to a healthy ecosystem while their low cost and high performance fulfills the economic interest. The effect of fiber content on the properties of natural fiber reinforced composites is particularly significance. Important factor that significantly influences the properties and interfacial characteristics of the composites is the processing parameters used. Biocomposites offers a significant market in automotive and decking market but application in other sectors has been limited. Green composites are promising because they are renewable, biodegradable and sustainable for non-renewable composites.

**Keywords:** biocomposite, biodegradable, eco-friendly, sustainable, fibers

#### **1. Introduction**

Globalization and sustainability has made life not only feasible but challenging too. Materials which are obtained from resources that are renewable tend to be suitable for sustainable development. These materials have a global value since they can act as a counter to the various environmental issues such as waste management problems, increase in global warming, the constant rise in oil prices and the deteriorating fossil resources. Different varieties of renewable materials have been used for many years across the food, furniture, and textile industry such as vegetable oils, starch and cellulosic based polymers, cotton, natural fibers, silk, and wool [1]. On the other hand, it is only recently that these materials have gained interest as a potential alternative to synthetic based polymers for different kinds of industrial applications like automotive, films, construction, paper coating, packaging and biomedical applications. The synthetic polymers pose many drawbacks towards the environment in ways such as the amount of vapors and toxic gases released after incineration and improper disposal, there has been more research work being focused on new green biopolymeric materials and their effective utilization in green composite applications.

Over the years, bioproducts have gained commercial importance. Chemical processes such as production of 'green' ethylene through dehydration of ethanol and further production of 'green' polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and some other plastics have been reviewed. Certain technological developments have also been used to enhance certain material properties of polymers that are bio-based; an example of which is development of heat resistant polylactic acid, thereby allowing extensive applications. Bio-fibers with stable properties are being produced over time by optimizing plants. There have been numerous applications occurring lately such as packaging, biomedical products, textile, agriculture, construction where these biodegradable biopolymers and biocomposites are an appropriate sustainable replacement [1, 2].

Biospecific and biosimulation materials cover the whole field of biofunctional materials. Biofunctional materials are synthesized from the view point of functionality design. The functionality design is based on determination of the polymer structure that realizes the desired functionality and property of materials, and on exploration of the appropriate method of polymer synthesis, polymer reaction, and polymer modification that yields the designed polymer structure.

### **1.1 Concept of composites**

A composite is a structural material which includes a combination of different entities that are insoluble in each other and are mixed together at a macroscopic level [1]. One of the constituents is known as the reinforcing phase and the other one into which the reinforcing phase is embedded is called the matrix (**Figure 1**). The reinforcing phase materials are found to be made of varying textures that can be in the form of flakes, fibers or particles [2]. On the other hand, the matrix phase materials are generally made of continuous phases [3, 4]. One of the most common examples of naturally found composites includes wood (cellulose fibers are reinforced into lignin matrix) and bones (reinforcements of bone-salt plates consisting of phosphate and calcium ions are added to the soft collagen matrix). Each constituent of the composite has different roles giving rise to a strong structural material. The matrix component within composite materials gives a defined shape, protects the reinforcements from environmental damage, transfers loads to reinforcing phase and improves the toughness of material [5]. The reinforcements in composites get strength from the matrix, stiffness and other mechanical properties; contain a high thermal expansion coefficient, high conductivity and good thermal transport [6].
