The use of biodegradable and enviro

The use of biodegradable and environment-friendly plant-based
‘‘lignocellulosic’’ fibers has been a natural choice for reinforcing
polymers to make them ‘‘greener’’ [16–25]. The growing interest
in lignocellulosic fibers is mainly due to their economical production
with few requirements for equipment and low specific weight,
which results in a higher specific strength and stiffness, compared to
glass reinforced composites. They also present safer handling and
working conditions compared to synthetic reinforcements. Plant
fibers are nonabrasive to mixing and molding equipment, which
can contribute to significant cost reductions. The most interesting aspect about natural plant fibers is their positive environmental
impact.