D. Tech. Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering / Aims to develop a thermoplastic matrix-based composite with a view to identifying the most suitable combinations of locally available natural fibres and matrices, which meet some basic requirements (e.g., fire and moisture resistance) for the structural and non-structural materials utilised in the building and construction industries.This general goal is divided into three distinct aims: 1. Examine the chemical surface modification of natural fibres (flax, hemp, pineapple and sisal) using water glass (WG). The study investigates the effect of WG treatment on the mechanical and thermooxidative properties of natural fibres. 2. To produce untreated and WG-treated short sisal/polypropylene (with or without maleic anhydride-grafted-polypropylene) compounds using the injection moulding process. The study also investigates the failure behaviour of the composites produced by the tensile-acoustic emission technique as well as the thermal and water absorption characteristics thereof. 3. To produce untreated and WG-treated nonwoven sisal/polypropylene (with or without maleated polypropylene) composites by using the compression moulding process. The study also investigated the fire resistance characteristics of composite materials.