Abstract: Research progresses in physical and chemical surface modification methods for fibers in biodegradable plastics/plant fiber composites were reviewed in this paper. The main physical methods included heat treatment, electrostatic discharge treatment and steam explosion. The main chemical methods included surface grafting, surfactant treatment, alkali treatment, esterification treatment, and coupling agent treatment. It was pointed out that the steam explosion and low temperature plasma treatments constituted the development trend in the future.

Key words: plant fiber, biodegradable plastics, surface modification