The increasing trend of the use of synthetic products may result in an increased level of pollution affecting both the environment and living organisms. Therefore, from the sustainability point of view, natural, renewable and biodegradable materials are urgently needed to replace environmentally harmful synthetic materials. Jute, one of the natural fibers, plays a vital role in developing composite materials that showed potential in a variety of applications such as household, automotive and medical appliances. This paper first reviews the characterization and performance of jute fibers. Subsequently, the main focus is shifted towards research advancements in enhancing physical, mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of the polymeric materials (i.e., synthetic or biobased and thermoplastic or thermoset plastic) reinforced with jute fibers in a variety of forms such as particle, short fiber or woven fabric. It is understood that the physio-mechanical properties of jute-polymer composites largely vary based on the fiber processing and treatment, fiber shape and/or size, fabrication processes, fiber volume fraction, layering sequence within the matrix, interaction of the fiber with the matrix and the matrix materials used. Furthermore, the emerging research on jute fiber, such as nanomaterials from jute, bioplastic packaging, heavy metal absorption, electronics, energy device or medical applications and development of jute fiber composites with 3D printing, is explored. Finally, the key challenges for jute and its derivative products in gaining commercial successes have been highlighted and potential future directions are discussed.

In recent years, natural fibers, such as jute has gained significant research interest in order to fabricate fiber reinforced polymer composites. Chemical treatments are generally carried out on the raw fibers for making composites with improved properties. From a composite manufacturing point of view, it is important to understand how the treatments can affect the thermal properties of the jute fiber. In the present research, the effects of rot-retardant, fire-retardant and water-retardant treatments on thermal properties of the jute fiber were investigated. Fiber samples were collected from the middle portion of whole jute fiber. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis were subsequently conducted on the jute fiber for thermal characterization. The results demonstrated a lower thermal decomposition temperature in the case of fire-retardant treated jute fiber but higher residue at above 400 °C, as compared to the raw and other treated fibers. In general, it was found that chemically treated fibers absorbed less heat, in contrast to the raw jute fiber and heat flow became negative in all cases of the treated fibers. This study provides important information about the thermal properties of the treated jute fibers for manufacturing polymer-based composite materials.

Natural renewable materials can play a big role in reducing the consumption of synthetic materials for environmental sustainability. Natural fiber-reinforced composites have attracted significant research and commercial importance due to their versatile characteristics and multi-dimensional applications. As the natural materials are easily rotten, flammable, and moisture absorbent, they require additional chemical modification for use in sustainable product development. In the present research, jute fibers were treated with rot-, fire-, and water-retardant chemicals and their corresponding polymer composites were fabricated using a compression molding technique. To identify the effects of the chemical treatments on the jute fiber and their polymeric composites, a Fourier transformed infrared radiation (FTIR) study was conducted and the results were analyzed. The presence of various chemicals in the post-treated fibers and the associated composites were identified through the FTIR analysis. The varying weight percentage of the chemicals used for treating the fibers affected the physio-mechanical properties of the fiber as well as their composites. From the FTIR analysis, it was concluded that crystallinity increased with the chemical concentration of the treatment which could be contributed to the improvement in their mechanical performance. This study provides valuable information for both academia and industry on the effect of various chemical treatments of the jute fiber for improved product development.

Biochar obtained from the oxygen-deficient thermochemical processing of organic wastes is considered to be an effective reinforcing agent in biocomposite development. In the present research, biocomposite film was prepared using sugarcane bagasse pyrolyzed biochar and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and its electrical and mechanical properties were assessed. The biocomposite films were produced by varying content (5 wt.%, 8 wt.% and 12 wt.%) of the biochar produced at 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C and characterized using X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental findings revealed that biochar produced at a higher pyrolyzing temperature could significantly improve the electrical conductance of the biocomposite film. A maximum electrical conductance of 7.67 × 10⁻² S was observed for 12 wt.% addition of biochar produced at 1000 °C. A trend of improvement in the electrical properties of the biocomposite films suggested a threshold wt.% of the biochar needed to make a continuous conductive network across the biocomposite film. Rapid degradation of tensile strength was observed with an increasing level of biochar dosage. The lowest tensile strength 3.12 MPa was recorded for the film with 12 wt.% of biochar produced at 800 °C. Pyrolyzing temperature showed a minor impact on the mechanical strength of the biocomposite. The prepared biocomposites could be used as an electrically conductive layer in electronic devices.

Modern research focuses on renewable, biodegradable and natural material to replace synthetic materials. Natural fiber based composites are under intensive study due to their eco-friendly nature and peculiar properties. Advantages of natural fibers are their continuous supply, easy handling and biodegradable nature. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the change in mechanical properties of polypropylene by reinforcing it with chopped pineapple leaf and banana fiber. Effect of fiber content and ratio, as well as fiber chemical treatment on mechanical properties was also studied. Pineapple leaf and banana fiber are two abundantly available fibers in Bangladesh. Both pineapple leaf and banana fiber were chemically treated with 5% sodium hydroxide. Discontinuous and randompineapple leaf and banana fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites were prepared using compression moulding technique. Fiber loading was varied at 2, 5, 10 and 15 wt%, while pineapple leaf and banana fiber ratio were varied at 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3. Best set of mechanical properties was obtained when polypropylene was reinforced with 5 wt% pineapple leaf and banana fiber at a ratio of 3:1. On the other hand, sodium hydroxide treated fiber reinforced composites had better mechanical properties as compared to those of raw fiber reinforced composites.

In present research, polypropylene composites were prepared with 10 wt% pineapple and betel nut fibres at ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 3:1 using compression moulding technique. Both pineapple and betel nut fibre were chemically treated with 5% NaOH. Composite was then prepared with treated pineapple and betel nut fibre at a ratio of 1:3. Mechanical (tensile, flexural and hardness), thermal (thermogravimetric analysis) and morphological (scanning electron microscopy) characterisation of prepared composites were subsequently carried out. Among the fibre ratios, composites containing pineapple and betel nut fibre at a ratio of 1:3 had the best set of mechanical properties. Alkali treatment of pineapple and betel nut fibre decreased tensile and flexural properties of corresponding composites. On the other, the same treatment had opposite effect on hardness. According to scanning electron microscopic analysis, composite containing pineapple and betel nut fibre at a ratio of 1:3 showed more adhesion as compared to other prepared composites. Thermal degradation temperature decreased in alkali-treated fibre- reinforced composite.