Recycled Plastics and Nanoparticles for Green Production of Nano Structural Materials

Abstract

Plastics are known with specific properties which are rarely found with other materials. Lightness, excellent shock absorber, corrosion resistance, low thermal, and electrical conductivities are inclusive. Wastes release from plastics products are becoming high alarming and threat to human life. Conversion of expired plastic products whether thermoset or thermoplastic into raw materials for green production of energy materials forms one of solution to address the plastics issues. Interest in agriculture for producing food to meet needs of increasing human population results in various food items across the globe. Nonedible components of agricultural production that are potential sources of materials are not fully developed. This can be linked to industrialization making fossil resources available as source of carbon, heat, and/or energy production. Tapping fossil resources disturbs ecological balances and has a link with hazards such as earthquake. Fossil resources are extinct or nonrenewable. They are unlike agricultural productions which release a huge amount of wastes annually or biannually with little or no economic values. Improper management of the agricultural wastes is a potential source of human health impact. Recent development is the processing of agricultural wastes into nanoparticles and or fibers which are used as reinforcement in new and recycled plastics for nanocomposites fabrication. This chapter discusses various plastics, their applications, recycling of expired plastic products, synthesis of nanoparticles from agricultural wastes, development of polymeric nanocomposites, and their structures, properties, and applications.