24. Natural Fiber-Based Composite Building Materials

Jute and allied fibers have gained interest as reinforcing materials in the composite industry for low-cost housing applications. Their advantages have been increasingly recognized with the major motivation being the environmental friendliness, low cost, renewability, and high specific strength and stiffness. In this chapter, an overview of efforts made during the previous decades on natural fiber composites is presented. Research and development carried out at CBRI on natural fiber composites with reference to jute is outlined. A three cornered approach: surface treatment of fibers, matrix resin modification, and selection of an appropriate processing technique for designing innovative building products have been adopted to develop dimensionally stable products. Based on these findings, various products such as composite panels, roofing sheets, door shutters, frames, and shuttering plates alternative to plywood have been prepared. Industrial trials for the manufacturing of standard size panel products are also carried out to know their commercial viability. The suitability of these products was assessed as per existing standard specifications for use as alternate building materials.