Evaluation of Surface Properties in Biosilica-Reinforced Biobased Polyester Nanocomposites

Abstract

This study investigates the surface properties of bio-based unsaturated polyester resin (b-UPR) nanocomposites reinforced with biosilica nanoparticles derived from rice husk. The b-UPR matrix was synthesized from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and renewable monomers, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional polyester resins. Unmodified and modified biosilica particles with silanes: (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate—MEMO, trimethoxyvinylsilane—VYNIL, and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane with biodiesel—AMBD) were incorporated in different amounts to evaluate their influence on the wettability, topography, and viscoelastic behavior of the composites. Contact angle measurements revealed that the addition of modified biosilica significantly improved the hydrophobicity of the b-UPR surface. The greatest increase in the wetting angle, amounting to 79.9% compared to composites with unmodified silica, was observed in the composites containing 5 wt.% SiO2-AMBD. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis indicated enhanced surface roughness and uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles. For the composite containing 1 wt.% of silica particles, the surface roughness increased by 25.5% with the AMBD modification and by 84.2% with the MEMO modification, compared to the unmodified system. Creep testing demonstrated that the reinforced nanocomposites exhibited improved dimensional stability under sustained load compared to the neat resin. These findings confirm that the integration of surface-modified biosilica not only enhances the mechanical properties but also optimizes the surface characteristics of bio-based polyester composites, broadening their potential for high-performance and sustainable applications.