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Additives and Fillers in Concrete01:29

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Additives and fillers are integral to enhancing the properties of concrete. Pozzolans and blast-furnace slag are additives or admixtures due to their reactions with calcium hydroxide released during cement hydration. Fillers, which are finely ground and similar in fineness to Portland cement, improve concrete attributes such as workability density, and reduce capillary bleeding or cracking. Some fillers possess hydraulic properties or participate in benign reactions within the cement paste.
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Valorising Insect Exoskeleton Biomass Filler in Bioplastic-Based Eco-Friendly Rigid Items for Agriculture

Norma Mallegni1, Vito Gigante1, Steven Verstichel2

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Insect exoskeleton waste is used as a filler in biocomposites, creating sustainable materials with good mechanical properties and compostability. This valorisation reduces costs and promotes agricultural applications.

Keywords:
biocompositebiodegradablecircular economycompostableinsect exoskeleton

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Sustainable Engineering

Background:

  • Insect farming generates exoskeleton by-products after protein extraction.
  • Biocomposites offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
  • Valorising waste streams is crucial for a circular economy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the use of insect exoskeleton as a filler in Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV) biocomposites.
  • To evaluate the thermal, mechanical, and biodegradability properties of these novel biocomposites.
  • To develop and optimize formulations for industrial-scale production of agricultural items.

Main Methods:

  • Composites were prepared using Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV) (70/30 wt%) with insect exoskeleton filler (up to 15 wt%).
  • Melt extrusion was employed for composite production, followed by characterization of processability, thermal stability, morphology, and mechanical properties.
  • Optimized formulations were injection molded into pots for industrial-scale testing and biodegradability assessment in compost.

Main Results:

  • Biocomposites containing up to 15% insect exoskeleton filler exhibited favorable thermal and mechanical properties.
  • The addition of insect exoskeleton filler enhanced the biodegradability of the biocomposites in compost.
  • Optimized formulations were successfully processed into rigid pots via industrial-scale injection molding.

Conclusions:

  • Insect exoskeleton by-products can be effectively valorised as fillers in PBSA/PHB-HV biocomposites.
  • These biocomposites offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for rigid agricultural applications.
  • The developed materials demonstrate good mechanical performance and biodegradability in industrial compost settings.