Towards the development of stable and efficient novel waste ceramics composites

Abstract

Natural resources are non-renewable and facing a regular depletion due to their immense use which demands new and additional material's reserves, recycling technologies and materials with no or less bad environmental effects. Reuse of waste materials will be rewarding technically, economically and environmentally. Here, we report the incorporation of industrial ceramic wastes in polymer matrix as composite materials to investigate their potentials for various applications. Ceramic wastes were collected from the premises of ceramic producing industries located at Peshawar (Pakistan). The composites of ceramic particles and polyaniline (PANI) were produced via in-situ free polymerization technique. SEM and FT-IR analysis confirmed composite formation. Thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties of the prepared materials were studied. It was found that both the constituent materials (ceramic and polymer) have a synergistic effect on each other. At one hand, ceramic wastes support and enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer in composites and the polymer in turn beautify the wastes with good dielectric and electrical properties. Based on their properties, the low cost and environmentally friendly novel composites could be used for various applications such as semi-conductors, capacitors and microwave devices.