Influence of natural fillers size and shape into mechanical and barrier properties of biocomposites

Abstract

The use of natural fillers as a way to adapt new biocomposites to society needs is a pertinent subject in chemistry and materials science nowadays. In the past decade, the search for complete green materials reached the interface of nanotechnology. This makes possible to obtain light, strong, and adapted nanocomposites, classified as a new potential green commodities class. Derived from natural sources (as starch, cellulose, and chitin), many micro- and nanofillers are used in biomaterials production. In this chapter, the influence of these fillers size and shape, as well as its sources, will be discussed, concerning, especially, the improvement in mechanical and barrier properties.