Polypropylene-based composite materials filled with hazelnut shells and modified by libaid T-2

Abstract

Polymer composite materials containing natural fillers are of significant interest from the point of view of sustainability and rational utilization of agricultural waste. Hazelnut shells, which are lignocellulosic in nature, can be used as dispersed fillers. However, a major drawback of such systems is the aggregation of filler particles due to the presence of polar functional groups on their surface and weak interfacial interaction with the non-polar polymer matrix. Figure 1 illustrates the composition and processing scheme of the PP/hazelnut shell/Libaid T-2 composites investigated in this study.