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Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposite—Properties and Processing

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Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposites

Part of the book series: Advanced Structured Materials ((STRUCTMAT,volume 75))

Abstract

This chapter mainly reviews the concept, properties and processing, and design method of the eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite (EPN), which is generally biodegradable and renewable. The major attractions of EPN are that they are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and degradable. These polymer composites can be easily composted or disposed without harming the environment. Some efforts have been made on attaining biodegradable reinforcing fillers giving improved performance of composites. Another concern is focused on employing recyclable synthetic fibers with thermoplastic composites to reduce the waste of fillers, and also some research is devoted to reusing or recycling the whole composites for the similar purpose. Simultaneously, people also would like to make composites manufactured with traditional production process become eco-friendly by extra reprocessing. Throughout the stages of development––design, appraisal, manufacture, use, reuse–recycling, and disposal––researchers are supposed to be fully engaged in reducing waste as much as possible, keeping in mind the environment all the time. A series of natural or synthetic materials have been used, such as cellulose, thermoplastic starch, etc. The challenge posed by eco-friendly composites also needs considerable attention in terms of poor bonding between matrix and fillers, loose control of fiber orientation, and difficulty in shaping nanoscale particles.

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Abbreviations

EPN:

Eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite

PLA:

Polylactic acid

PHB:

Polyhydroxylbutyrate

EPC:

Eco-friendly polymer composites

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

MC:

Methyl cellulose

MMT:

Montomorillionite

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Pei Dong, Raghavan Prasanth, Fangbo Xu, Xifan Wang & Bo Li

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, 6100 Main MS-321, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Raghavan Prasanth

  3. Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, Inc., 233 Cherry Lane, New Castle, DE, 19720, USA

    Ravi Shankar

Authors
  1. Pei Dong
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  2. Raghavan Prasanth
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  3. Fangbo Xu
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  4. Xifan Wang
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  5. Bo Li
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  6. Ravi Shankar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raghavan Prasanth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA

    Vijay Kumar Thakur

  2. Chemistry, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Manju Kumari Thakur

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Dong, P., Prasanth, R., Xu, F., Wang, X., Li, B., Shankar, R. (2015). Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposite—Properties and Processing. In: Thakur, V., Thakur, M. (eds) Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposites. Advanced Structured Materials, vol 75. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2470-9_1

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