A Review of Significant Advances in Areca Fiber Composites

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the design of areca fiber composites. The physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of areca fiber and its composites are explained here. The species of Areca fiber represents the Arecaceae/Palmae family (like the coconut/palm trees), with regard to its physical and mechanical properties. Researchers identified that areca fiber holds prospective applications as an alternative to reinforced polymer composites in the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries. Surveys on bio-softening, adhesion, the effects of fiber length, chemical treatments of long areca fibers, the influence of mercerization on the tensile strength of long and short areca fibers, and areca husk have been done. Several researchers have utilized various natural fibers in developing bio-composites. Furthermore, the reinforced composite of natural fiber is a prospective research area, considering its mechanical properties, tensile strength, lightweight, nominal pricing, biodegradable/eco-friendly nature, and ease of procuring raw materials compared to synthetic fiber-reinforced composites. However, little research has been done on areca leaf fibers as a feasible fiber. This chapter provides information on the development and investigation of the mechanical behaviour of a natural fiber-reinforced epoxy composite of areca fiber with various configurations of areca fiber orientation.