In the heart of India, a revolution is brewing, not in the fields of spices or textiles, but in the laboratories of environmental science. Vinita Sharma, a researcher from the Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, has been transforming agricultural waste into high-performance materials, potentially reshaping the energy sector’s approach to sustainable packaging and insulation.
Sharma’s latest work, published in the International Journal of Polymer Science, focuses on creating green composites from sugarcane bagasse fiber and wood apple shell powder, two abundant agricultural byproducts in India. The study, titled “Multiparametric Investigation of Chemically Treated and Untreated Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites With Wood Apple Shell as Filler: From Waste to Green Composite,” explores the potential of these materials to replace conventional, petroleum-based composites in various industries.
The process begins with treating sugarcane bagasse fiber with an alkaline solution, which increases its crystallinity and enhances its mechanical properties. This treated fiber is then combined with wood apple shell powder and epoxy resin to create a hybrid composite. Sharma and her team varied the weight percentage of the wood apple shell filler to optimize the composite’s performance.
The results are promising. The composite with 10% wood apple shell filler and treated sugarcane bagasse fiber (TB10) showed a 94.29% improvement in tensile strength and a 32.60% improvement in flexural strength compared to the untreated counterpart. “The treated composites exhibit superior mechanical properties, making them suitable for high-stress applications,” Sharma explains.
But the benefits don’t stop at strength. The composites also demonstrate excellent thermal stability, with TB10 retaining 33% of its mass at 498°C. This property could make these green composites an attractive option for the energy sector, where thermal insulation and fire resistance are crucial.
Moreover, the composites’ water absorption properties can be tailored by adjusting the filler content, opening up possibilities for applications in humid environments. “The non-Fickian diffusion mechanism observed in these composites suggests a complex interaction between the fiber, filler, and matrix, which we are currently investigating further,” Sharma adds.
The potential commercial impacts are significant. These green composites could reduce the energy sector’s reliance on petroleum-based materials, lowering carbon emissions and promoting a circular economy. They could also create new revenue streams for farmers, who would sell their agricultural waste to composite manufacturers.
As Sharma continues her research, she envisions a future where agricultural waste is not just a nuisance but a valuable resource. “Our goal is to develop sustainable, high-performance materials that can compete with conventional composites,” she says. “We believe that these green composites are a step in that direction.”
The energy sector is watching closely. If Sharma’s composites live up to their promise, they could revolutionize the way we think about waste and sustainability. The journey from waste to green composite is just beginning, but the potential is immense. As Sharma and her team delve deeper into the science of these materials, the future of sustainable energy looks a little greener.