Processing of Biodegradable Composites
Gourhari Chakraborty, Arbind Prasad, Ashwani Kumar
Abstract
Biodegradable polymer-based materials are used in all fields including packaging, biomedicine and electronics. Processing of biodegradable polymeric composites is an important factor for effective and improved product development. Optimization of processing condition makes production economical. Depletion of molecular weight, agglomeration of fillers and melt strength are the problems associated with melt processing of composites. Solution processing is the easiest processing technique of polymer composites. However, solvent selection and recovery of solvent are the problems associated with this particular technique. Melt processing is an industrially applicable processing technique. It can be of different types such as moulding, extrusion and fibre drawing. In view of this, different processing techniques are discussed in this chapter. Processing techniques of biodegradable polymeric composites are classified as solution processing, melt processing and updated processing techniques and are discussed extensively in this chapter.