Development of Sustainable Eco-friendly Composites for Thermal Insulation Applications from Agricultural Waste

The combination of environmental, economic, and regulatory factors is driving the upward trajectory of global demand for agro-waste composite materials. The utilization of agro-waste composite materials helps mitigate the environmental impact of agricultural residues and offers a viable solution to disposal challenges. The objective of the research is to develop sustainable composites reinforced with rice straw and banana fiber, with a focus on examining their utilization for energy-saving applications. The composites were prepared using injection molding technique by incorporating rice straw and banana fibers in Poly Lactic Acid (PLA). Thermal conductivity and specific heat of specimens were measured by guarded heat flow meter and differential scanning calorimeter, respectively. The thermal conductivity of developed bio-composites was in the range of 0.143–0.161 W/mK. The dielectric strength and sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of the rice straw and banana composite materials were measured, suggesting their suitability for both electrical and acoustic applications. The agro-waste composites developed could replace petrochemical based insulation materials.