Flame retardancy and fire mechanical properties for natural fiber/polymer composite: A review

The vulnerability against heat and fire for natural fibers presents a great challenge for their replacement of traditional fiber reinforcements in composite materials. Natural fiber/polymer composites (NFCs) are considered as potential candidates in engineering applications due to their environmental friendliness and low-impact sourcing. Hence, suitable approaches need to be employed to enhance the fire safety of NFCs. In this review, the latest understanding of the flammability and thermal properties for natural fibers was summarized and discussed, with special focus on their interaction with polymer matrix in fire behavior. Furthermore, the latest development of flame-retardant approaches for NFCs was reviewed by covering both flame retardancy and fire structural integrity. Finally, outlook and perspectives regarding fire-safe of NFCs were proposed, providing insight into the further development of NFCs.