Synthesis Characterization and Applications of Polymer Composites Derived From Seashell Wastes

Abstract

In the recent decades, polymer composites and biocomposites produced from newlinenatural resources like seashells play a vital role in the application of medical and newlineindustrial sectors. Appropriate methods can produce the composite materials, ensuring newlineenvironmental sustainability. Specifically, polymer-based biocomposites can be used as newlinea class of active agents in the drug delivery systems, and due to their biodegradable newlineproperties, they can be safely used in the polymer industries. newlineIn the present work, sea shell powder, a waste biomaterial, has been used as a newlinegood filler material in different polymer matrices. The outer cover of the shell is a solid newlinewaste material of zero cost, and its degradation produces some toxic substances, which newlineare harmful to both soil and air. So, we have synthesized some composites and newlinebiocomposites in the eco-friendly technique by using polysaccharide-based hydrogel newlinewith shell powder, such as crab shells, shrimp shells, and fish scales, as filler material newlineand ammonium persulphate as an initiator and MBA as a cross-linker. The effect of filler newlinematerials on polymer and copolymer composites, their interactions, and characteristics newlinewere examined by different instrumental techniques. The interphase interactions newlineoccurred between the filler and the copolymer matrices, which were analyzed through newlineFourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The structural property, crystallinity, newlineand structural phases of the composites were investigated through X-ray diffraction newline(XRD) analysis and confirmed the successful formation of the composites. The newlinestructural morphology of the composites was examined through scanning electron newlinemicroscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The newlinethermal stability of the composites was studied through thermogravimetry analysisderivative thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG) and displayed that the incorporation of the newlinefillers into the polymer matrix enhanced the thermal stability of the composites. We newlinehave used fish scales for chitosan extraction, which will