Biopolymer composites with waste chicken feather fillers: A review

Abstract

It has always been a concern for scientists and researchers to reduce the harmful industrial impact on the environment by recycling and reusing various waste materials or finding bio-based alternatives to conventional materials. Biopolymer composites, an alternative to synthetic composites, and the technological growth in this area have paved the path to making many environmentally friendly products. In the quest for sustainable products, researchers are focusing on developing different bio-based reinforcements for polymer composites. This study comprehensively reviews the works on the development and performances of various biopolymer composites reinforced with fillers derived from chicken feathers. Properties, such as mechanical, physical, dynamic mechanical properties, and morphological behavior of chicken feather fillers, are discussed based on the findings from previous articles. The biodegradability and life cycle assessment study are also discussed in the context of biopolymer/chicken feather filler composites. Finally, the future scope of the application of biopolymer/chicken feather filler composites and the plausible ways to tailor the various properties of biopolymer/chicken feather filler composites through hybridization are suggested. Unlike the existing works, this study is a novel attempt to systematically discuss the multiple aspects of biopolymer composites reinforced with fillers derived from waste chicken feathers, and it also suggests the futuristic ways to mitigate the problems associated with the material.