Recent Advances in Nanoclay/Natural Fibers Hybrid Composites

The growing demand for continual improvement in the engineering applications of thermoplastic and thermoset polymer materials compared with metals in various applications led to the emergence of hybrid nanocomposites by the addition of different nano fillers, with advanced properties. Nano fillers such as carbon black, pyrogenic silica, nano oxides and metal particles are being used as additives in polymers from decades. However, the increasing stringent environmental legislation and consumer awareness highlights the importance of natural, low cost and abundant clay materials such as nanoclays. The hybridization of natural fiber with nanoclay is interestingly positive due to the tendency of nanoclay to upsurge both flexibility and rigidity of the natural fiber in one step. The most promising nanoclay involved in the modification of polymers and natural fibers reinforced polymer composite are montmorillonite, organoclay, saponite and halloysite nanotubes. Nanoclay/natural fibers hybrid nanocomposites have engrossed great attention since their discovery due to their wide variety of properties in food packaging, biomedical devices, automotive industries and other consumer applications with better thermal, physical, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. Present article designed to be a comprehensive source of recent literature and study on nanoclay fillers, its different classes, modification of polymers by nanoclay and their varied applications. This article also intended to covers the recent advances in natural fiber/nanoclay hybrid polymer nanocomposites research study, including their different commercial applications.