Sustainable polymer composites from agro and municipal green wastes: a comprehensive review of materials, properties, and applications
Gopal Pudhupalayam Muthukutti, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sathish Kumar Palaniappan, V. Kavimani, Pawinee Boonyasopon, Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Suchart Siengchin
Abstract
Development of sustainable polymer composites reinforced with fillers derived from wastes is a highly promising direction within the context of innovative materials and environmental protection. Composite materials using wastes as fillers in polymer matrices avoids dependence on virgin raw material. Further, it will help to solve one of the serious global problems of waste management. Among various fillers derived from waste sources, agricultural and municipal green waste fillers are mostly utilized in polymer composites. These could be employed to enhance the mechanical properties, thermal and other characteristics of the polymer composite. Hence, this provides an environmentally friendly and economical alternative for synthetic fillers. This review highlights recent advances in developing sustainable polymer composites with fillers derived from agro and municipal green wastes. Important factors such as filler treatment, addition of compatibilizer, and manufacturing techniques, which are responsible for improving performance of these composites are discussed in detail. The review outlines both challenges and opportunities toward scaling in applications such as automotive, construction material, packaging, and electronics, with an emphasis on the use of waste fillers.