Biodegradable Copolyester-Based Natural Fibers–Polymer Composites: Morphological, Mechanical, and Degradation Behavior

Abstract

Random disposal and accumulation of commodity plastics in the open environment after their end use is an issue that has triggered a lot of concerns both in public and academic debates owing to their seemingly high contribution toward the environmental pollution and potential impacts on biota and human health. Thus, finding the greener solution to this problem has got immense socio-economic and ecological significance. As a result, there is an increasing trend of using biodegradable or compostable polymeric materials. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of plants-based reinforcing fillers into biodegradable polymers to construct composite materials have proved benefits in various applications. A great deal of research has been performed in order to develop novel sustainable polymeric materials having tailored physical properties over a wide range. As a consequence, by using bio-based fillers, new composite materials have been developed and commercialized. In this chapter, initially, the attention will be made on the review of different methods of extracting microcrystalline (MCC) and nanocrystalline (NCC) celluloses from different agro-based wastes using a series of thermo-mechanical and chemical processing routes. After a quick review on the structure-properties correlation of the micro- and nanocomposites of copolyesters, we shed light on biodegradable green composites with special emphasis on their morphological studies and correlations to deformation and degradation behavior. On the ground of the results obtained from our laboratory complemented by literature works, the structure-property correlations of copolyester-based composites have been discussed. Finally, the chapter concludes highlighting the new trends, major challenges, and opportunities relevant to the related research field.