Valorization of Post-Consumers Plastics and Agro-Waste in Sustainable Polymeric Composites for Tribological Applications

The research proposed an effective approach for recycling of waste plastics and agro-industrial waste as a source of energy optimizing the economic viability of the waste products and reducing environmental issues. The composites were developed by utilizing eight different types of waste plastics, rice hush husk, and sand. The density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the composites were evaluated. Moreover, the tribological characterizations as sliding wear rate and three-body abrasive wear were performed under the conditions of loads and speeds. The composites attained a maximum density of 1.9833 g/cm 3 and a minimum percentage of water absorption of 0.261. The optimal values of the compressive strength and flexural strength were obtained to be 9.628 and 28.081 (MPa), respectively. The sliding wear rate was in the range of 2.655 × 10 –8 -12.896 × 10 –8 (kg/m). Whereas the ranges for abrasives wear were obtained to be 0.0309–0.6459 (cm 3 ) and 0.0386–0.1257 (cm 3 ), under the conditions of loads and sliding speeds, respectively. The study suggested the incorporation of 25 wt. % of rice husk ash and 25 wt. % of sand with 50 wt. % of polycarbonates in composites for tribological applications. The work contributes towards the attainment of circular economy in the composite manufacturing industries. Graphical Abstract