preprints.org > materials science > biomaterials > 201911.0310.v1

Working Paper Review Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 25 November 2019 / Approved: 26 November 2019 / Online: 26 November 2019 (10:27:02 CET)

Natural fibers are a gift from nature that we yet fully utilized until now. It can be classified into several groups and bast fibers are the group having the most promising performance when reinforced in polymer composites. However, numerous factors have been reported that influences mechanical properties of fiber reinforcements in the composite. In this review, bast fiber retting process and the effect of enzymatic retting on fiber and fibers reinforced polymer composites have been discussed and reviewed for the latest researches. Retting precedes mechanical processing (i.e. scutching) of the fiber from the stem and is essential for reduction of fiber breakage. All retting methods except chemical retting process are involving secretes of enzymes by bacteria or fungi under controlled (enzymatic retting) or random conditions (water and dew retting). Besides, enzymatic retting is claimed to have more environmentally friendly wastewater products, shorter retting period and controllable fiber biochemical components under mild incubation conditions. This review comprehensively assesses the enzymatic retting process for producing high-quality bast fiber and will become a reference for future development on bast fiber reinforced polymer composites.

enzyme; bast fibers; enzymatic retting; characterizations

MATERIALS SCIENCE, Biomaterials