Composite materials are engineered materials, made from two or more constituents with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. Due to their special mechanical and physical properties they have the potential to replace conventional materials.
Natural and synthetic polymer based composites with different fillers and nanofillers (cellulose micro- and nanofibres fromrenewable resources) for industrial, agricultural and biomedicine applications are discussed. Synthesis of environmentally friendly materials, surface modification of fillers for compatibilisation with polymer matrix and eventually recycling of plastic wastes from automobile, and electronic equipment complete the approach.
Mohamed Bououdina, University of Bahrain, College of Science, Kingdom of Bahrain; J. Paulo Davim, University of Aveiro, Portugal
