Sustainable development of bioepoxy composites reinforced with recycled rigid polyurethane foam for mechanical, thermal, acoustic, and electromagnetic applications in a circular economy approach.

ABSTRACT: The accumulation of polyurethane (PU) waste presents a critical environmental challenge due to the inefficiencies of traditional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration. This study introduces a sustainable approach by repurposing 99.89% pure rigid polyurethane foam granules (~ 150 µm) as fillers (5 wt.%) in bio-epoxy composites, complemented with 99.89% pure vermiculite particles (~ 10 µm) at varying concentrations (2-10 wt.%). Comprehensive characterization techniques, including high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to evaluate the composites' mechanical, thermal, electrical, acoustic, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. The study specifically measured EMI shielding effect

SUBMITTER: Selvaraj VK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11894226 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature