## 4 Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Composites Reinforced with Banana Fibers
In the mentioned appendices, information about the MP of PCLBF and PC with woven pattern reinforced with BF (PCWBF) can also be found. As mentioned before, the PCLBF and the PCWBF can be hybridized with other NF or also with particles. In some published examples, the following hybridizations were used: BF and abaca fibers PC (look similar as BF and also are a member of the Musaceae plant family) [19], BF-hemp fibers-GF PC [3], short BF and sisal fibers PC [67; 69], GF-hemp fibers-BF PC [3; 184], BF-wheat gluten PC [185], BF and cotton fibers in yarn textile production and PC [15], BF and GF [89], BF and nanoclay particles [186], PCWBF with sisal fibers [68], PCWBF with kenaf fibers [90], Nylon6/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) PCBF [66], etc. However, it is important to note that in this review work, some hybrid cases were considered with respect to the maximum variation (MV) of the studied MP, but only for 100% BF (e.g., 0% GF and 100% BF, see Appendix F (Table A6). No studies were found using Liquid Composite Molding processes, which are considered as promising and effective to manufacture structural composite parts reinforced with natural fibres [187]--for this case, using BF as reinforcement. Table 5 summarizes the MP (only the highest and lowest obtained results) of the studies found in the literature that used BF as reinforcement in different situations. From Table 5, some important conclusions can be drawn. The highest variation in MP is positive in almost all cases, in comparison with the respective control sample, except for TM and FM in the HPCBF case. The highest variation in terms of TM, TS, FM, FS, and IS were obtained for PCBF with SM, PCLBF, and PCWBF respectively. As mentioned before, until today, there exists only a few numbers of studies in the literature that used BF as reinforcement for plasticized SM. Plasticized starch matrices have recently shown that they are good matrices for the manufacturing of BPC. In fact, as the PM is reinforced by the starch and then by the BF, this material is a hybrid composite. This hybrid showed the biggest improvements in the variation of TM and TS, for example, and the MP of the BPC increased because the starch worked as a good stiffening agent. On the other hand, this hybrid is more environmentally friendly than all the mentioned PCBF and can be used in the biomedical field. However, some specific drawbacks (e.g., MAT) need to be solved. In the case of PCLBF, they have the arrangement of the BF made alternately; then, the crack propagation becomes more difficult, and the PCBF failure is found to be due to excessive bending deformations, leading to a mode with bending stiffness mismatch and reinforcement orientation differences between the adjacent plies [190]. The hybridization of PC by BF with another NF does not yield superior MP to that of hybridization by GF and carbon fiber, but this kind of hybrid composite is suitable for low-cost applications. The mechanical strength of PCWBF depends on the weave style, fiber orientation, and the bonding between the BF and PM. PCWBF have a high IS compared to those made out of nonwoven BF. The impact energy can overall be dissociated into three pools of energy: the stored energy, the absorbed energy, and the dissipated energy. The interlacing of yarns in the case of the PCWBF provides higher out-of-plane stiffness and can take up the loads due to load-path eccentricities [190]. The immediate response to a low-velocity impact is bending or local compression and shear with dominant damage mechanisms, being matrix cracking, fiber fracture, and delamination [190]. In general, BF introduces plasticizing effects on the PM. The PCBF have higher toughness, and the quality of the fiber-reinforced composite depends considerably on the fiber-matrix interface, because a well-formed interface allows better stress transfer from matrix to the fiber. BF have high  
extensibility and can withstand the applied stress, which will prevent catastrophic failure of the final composite.