7 th INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE, CLOTHING & DESIGN CONFERENCE – Magic World of Textiles October 05 th to 08 th 2014, DUBROVNIK, CROATIA 1 MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VEGETABLE FIBERS, AND SOME APPLICATIONS Célia Regina DA COSTA; Barbara DEL CURTO & Andrea RATTI Abstract: This article is a comprehensive review on the mechanical behavior of three vegetable fibers (hemp, kenaf and coconut) and some applications from these vegetable fibers selected in engineering and others field. Chemical and physical characteristics of these types of vegetable fibers are investigated in order to understand that the chemicals components interfere in the performance of the fibers, and consequently in the products developed from these fibers. Vegetable fibers have the advantages of biodegradability, low density, abundance, non-toxic nature, useful mechanical properties, low cost, and are raw materials to add more ecological advantages. But, vegetable fibers require studies to improve performance. In addition, the project will improve opportunities for sustainable goods through the development of design, strategies of sustainable products. Keywords: Vegetable fibers, mechanical and chemical properties, applications of vegetable fibers, product design. 1. Introduction The dependence of products based on petroleum fuels and the increase in environmental consciousness enabled studies and projects of new sustainable materials to replace existing ones. Environmental problems for cleaner processes have guided scientific researches towards eco materials. The use of vegetable fiber has an advantage in relation to the characteristics such as renewability, biodegradability, environmentally friendly, and have important mechanical properties that can be applied in the development of products that requiring good mechanical condition in its performance. For these reasons, there is a great possibility for the application of plant fibers in the elaboration of products that require resistance during his enforcement. Nowadays, vegetable fibers are more viable be used, as reinforcement, videlicet, the fibers are mixed in a matrix that can be a polymer (epoxy, phenolic, polyester, polypropylene, and plastic), concrete, and are uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. Vegetable fibers have a high performance when inserted into composite, durability, low density, good mechanical properties, low cost and other which describe environmental advantages followed with increased technical performances. The use of vegetable fibers is increasingly being used in several sectors as development of products, civil engineering (reinforcing concrete, roofing, etc.). These fibers are used in packaging industry and industrial designers are using it to make interior door panels, manufacturing of ropes used in nautical as well as an acoustic absorber and sound barrier. 2. Background 2.1 The main important chemical constituents of the vegetable fiber The major component of vegetable fiber is cellulose (see in Figure 1), hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, waxes, and other minors content. Cellulose is a polysaccharide polymer made up of glucose units, and it has the elements of an empirical formula (C6H10O5)n. The chains are parallel to form the bundles, denominated of microfibrils. Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate made up of several glucose molecules connected end to end. Hemicellulose is a short and branched heterogeneous group of polysaccharides. In addition, the cell wall contains the pectin and cross-linking glycan, which are groups of branched polysaccharides.