Raw and chemically treatedbio-wastefilled (Limonia acidissimashell powder) vinyl ester composites: Physical, mechanical, moisture absorption properties, and microstructure analysis

The rapid growth of environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly materials tends to the utilization of biowastes as filler in polymer matrix composites. The particulate composite with improved wettability of fillers and advanced approach can evolve polymer composites that exhibit promising applications in packaging, automobile, marine, construction, and aerospace. In the present work, one of the biowaste fillers were synthesized fromLimonia acidissimashells via a top-down approach (pulverizing) and the surfaces were chemically modified using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) before they were used as fillers in vinyl ester polymer composites by different weight percentage (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%). The prepared particulate composites were characterized by mechanical properties, moisture absorption behavior, and morphology. At different filler loading the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, hardness, density, and moisture intake tests were performed. The results reveal that the properties increased for composites filled with alkaline treated fillers for the same filler loading and found to be higher at filler loading of 15 wt%. The morphological analysis confirms the better interfacial bonding between alkali-treated particles and matrix due to the removal of non-cellulose materials from the surface of the particles.

Automated summary

The use of biowastes as fillers in polymer composites can enhance properties, with composites filled with alkaline-treated fillers performing best at a loading of 15 wt%.