Multifunctional composite ecomaterials and their impact on sustainability

Abstract

Composites composed of biodegradable polymer as matrix and natural fillers as reinforcement have attracted great attention in environmental protection. The addition of natural fillers to the compositions with the biodegradable polymers aims to improve the properties of the materials, as well as lower the prices. Many application fields in which this kind of composites may be used caused the development of a new trend in ecomaterials area. Although consumers more and more expect ecoproducts, the introduction of biodegradable composites packaging on market involves many scientific uncertainties and still requires complex activities to the full understanding of the use of such materials in daily life. This review focuses on compostable composites as a cheaper alternative for the biodegradable polymers in various practical applications. Composites with biodegradable polymers as a matrix and the natural origin materials as fillers will be briefly discussed.