Oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber: surface morphology, treatment, and suitability as reinforcement in cement composites- A state of the art review

The construction industry has grown enormously over the last few decades. Concrete has been the key component in most construction works. Concrete is very good in compression but the weak tensile properties have made an urge to improve its tensile properties with different reinforcement materials. The reinforced concrete has more tensile strength compared to non-reinforced concrete. There are several types of fibers used in reinforced concrete. The Usage of natural fibers in concrete has not only improved the tensile properties but also has a positive impact on Environment. There are many varieties of natural fibers available in the market. This state-of-the-art review represents the potential of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibers as reinforcement. Several researchers have used OPEFB fibers as reinforcement in composite materials in the construction industry. In this state-of-the-art review, the overall performance of OPEFB fibers and their composites are reported. The surface morphology of OPEFB fibers, physical properties, mechanical properties, and various treatment methods for improving durability are presented.