The Evolution and Future Trends of Unsaturated Polyester Biocomposites: A Bibliometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Composites

Background:

• Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) is a foundational polymer matrix for composites.
• Natural fibers are increasingly used to enhance the sustainability of UPR composites.
• Global research interest in UPR biocomposites has been sustained over four decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a structured bibliometric analysis of UPR biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers.
• To map the evolution and current state of research in this field.
• To identify key research areas, active contributors, and future research opportunities.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 531 papers from the Scopus database (1982–July 2022).
• Analysis of publication trends, active institutions, and leading authors.
• Identification of prevalent natural fibers, treatment methods, processing techniques, testing, and applications.

Main Results:

• Identified key research areas including common natural fibers, fiber treatments, processing, testing, and applications.
• Highlighted active research states, leading institutions, and prominent authors in the field.
• Revealed a sustained global interest and significant publication output over the last 40 years.

Conclusions:

• UPR biocomposites are a significant and evolving area of research.
• Continued global engagement is crucial in this field.
• The study provides insights into novel and promising avenues for future UPR biocomposite research.