A review on the impact of bio-fillers on thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer composites

Abstract

The bio-wastes from the industries, households, and markets are often underutilized and usually accumulate at landfills. Though these fillers are inferior in properties compared to synthetic fillers, they can still be used as potential reinforcements for the polymer composites requiring low to moderate strength and stiffness. This article intends to discuss the influence of various types of fillers, physical characteristics such as size, aspect ratio of the filler, etc.,and % weight of the fillers on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with these fillers. It also aims to bring in the interfacial adhesion characteristics of the filler with the polymer matrix. The pioneering of bio-based composite materials in the automobile industry brings forth an impact on cost-effective and highly reliable materials. Biowaste from the industries, households, and markets was used as bio-fibersthat are used in the form of threads or also as fillers. This paper investigated the governing of bio-fillers effects on the mechanical and thermal properties of composite materials. The existence of bio-fillers exhibited improvement in both the strength and thermal stability of the composite materials. Filler influencewas based on weight percentage distinguished by the change in the strength of the composite materials due to the bonding and voids present in the composite materials that also affected the thermal firmness. This paper also discusses the characterization of fibers in terms of their constituents, strength, and thermal stability. These fillers influence the composite materials based on the different categories,such as (i) preparation process of fillers (ii) size of the fillers (iii) bonding of the fillers towards the matrix (iv)weight percentage of fillers, and (v) strength and thermal properties of fillers. This study also deals with the effect of hybridization of the composite materials by the presence of the fillers into the fiber-reinforced composite materials. Hence, the forthcoming study discusses the preparation of filler added composite materials, their mechanical and thermal properties of the composites.