Manufacturing and design of banana fiber composites and their applications in aerospace engineering

Due to growing demands for sustainable and lightweight materials in aerospace, an investigation into natural fiber-reinforced composites has become a prime focus. Among several natural fibers, banana fiber, made by extracting fibers from the pseudostem of the banana plant, has received much attention because of its excellent mechanical properties, low cost, biodegradability, and wide availability in tropical regions. This chapter gives a holistic treatment of the manufacturing methods, material design concepts, and aerospace applications entailed in banana fiber-reinforced composites. It delves deeply into the extraction of banana fibers while also giving attention to their chemical composition and the effects of relevant treatments, such as alkali and silane, on fiber-matrix adhesion. Different fabrication processes, such as hand lay-up, compression molding, and resin transfer molding for high-quality composite production, are discussed. The chapter provides an overview of the mechanical behavior of composites affected by fiber orientation, volume fraction, and hybridization with synthetic or other natural fibers. The chapter also addresses the general manufacturing processes used and challenges that come with banana fiber composites, such as moisture absorption, property variability, and durability under environmental stress. Remedial measures to address the above challenges are given consideration, including better treatments and standardization of processing methods. The chapter also highlights the potential of these banana-based composites to contribute toward sustainability in aerospace manufacturing through reduced environmental impact and resource-efficient design.