A Review of Date Palm Fiber Composites: Processing, Properties, Applications, and Challenges

Compared with synthetic fibers, natural fibers have shown the most significant promise as reinforcement materials for composites. Because they are derived from plants and animals, natural fibers are widely available and reasonably priced. They are also biodegradable. Date palms contain high dietary fiber, which is extracted via chemical, physical, mechanical, and biological techniques and has been employed in the development of composites. The date palm fiber (DPF) composites are developed through resin transfer molding, hand layup, compression molding, and filament winding. The composites developed with date palm fibers have shown remarkable improvements in mechanical, thermal, and physical properties. These appreciable properties possessed by the DPF composites have demonstrated their applications in the automotive industry, building construction, water treatment, biomedical, and pharmaceutical fields. DPFs are environmentally friendly and substitute materials that help achieve sustainable development goals by lowering excessive reliance on nonrenewable resources. This review offers a systematic and quantitative literature-based comparison of the relationships among extraction, processing, and property-performance in DPF composites, providing a comprehensive synthesis not available in earlier studies.