Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION  Preliminary remarks               Fiber-reinforced composite materials are an important class of engineering materials that offer outstanding mechanical properties with flexibility in design and ease of fabrication. The advanced composites have the advantages of light weight, corrosion resistance, impact resistance and excellent fatigue strength. Today fiber composites are widely used in diverse applications such as automobiles, aircraft, containers and piping, sporting goods, electronics and appliances. These composites are fabricated using various reinforcing materials like glass fiber, carbon fibers, graphite, Kevlar fibers, etc. These fibers are non-biodegradable and offer environmental problems in disposing the scrap.  The present trend of development of any technology should comply with the sustainable development and preserve the biodiversity. In view of this global concern, natur...