Sustainable Polymers: From Recycling of Non-Biodegradable to Renewable Resources Composites and Foams: doi: 10.14456/mijet.2015.13

Yottha SRITHEP; Lih-Sheng TURNG; John MORRIS; Dutchanee PHOLHARN; Onpreeya VEANGIN

Authors

Yottha SRITHEP Manufactuing and Materials Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150
Lih-Sheng TURNG Polymer Engineering Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706
John MORRIS Manufactuing and Materials Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150
Dutchanee PHOLHARN Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Rajabhat Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000
Onpreeya VEANGIN Manufactuing and Materials Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150

Keywords:

Sustianable polymers, recycling, biodegradable plastics, renewable resources, composites and foams

Abstract

Sustainable polymers and composites provide possibility to be environmental impact free materials for the future applications. These materials could be used as recycling post-consumer plastic products, biodegradable polymers made from renewable resources, and reducing the materials used by making either foamed parts or stronger polymer composites. Using natural cellulose fibers as fillers for biodegradable polymers would also result in fully biodegradable green composites and help to reduce the matrix polymer material used. It is hoped that these approaches will help to accelerate and facilitate recycling and the reduction of polymers, as well as promote an increased adoption of polymers and composites from renewable resources. More details on the aforementioned topics have been presented in this paper.