Advances of Natural Fiber Composites in Construction Applications—A Comprehensive Review

Over the past years, natural fiber composites (NFCs) have been developed and studied as environmentally friendly commercial substitutes for synthetic materials with superior behaviors in terms of mechanical properties, environmental aspects, and costs in construction applications. This paper provides an overview of the progress and significance of NFCs with respect to increasing need for sustainable materials in the construction sector. including kenaf, jute, flax, and coir, wall paneling, roofing, flooring, insulation, and other structural elements. According to the growing global environmental awareness and the restrictions of the traditional building materials, the public increasingly demands sustainable materials in the construction field. Although different factors of NFCs such as mechanical properties, fabrication processes and environmental aspects have been studied, there is still no comprehensive review to collectively think about opportunities and challenges of NFCs in any area of application, like construction. The present review bridges this significant gap by providing an integrated overview of the widely available NFCs, encompassing their classification and properties, as well as their compatibility with several fabrication techniques and recent innovations in additively manufactured approaches such as fused filament fabrication (FFF) and vat photopolymerization (VPP). It discusses the influence of chemical treatments for improved moisture resistance and thermal performance, as well as durability—the key determinants of remit for civil engineering. Furthermore, this paper showcased real-world construction applications including wall paneling, roofing, insulation, and concrete reinforcement, matching respective fiber characteristics to functional needs. Conclusively, by highlighting performance metrics, comparative assessment, and some of the fundamental challenges, including fire resistance, fiber inconsistency, and machining challenges faced by these composites, this review aims to serve as a guiding light for future research endeavors. This work is timely as it will serve as a comprehensive and unifying treatment of these elements.