Bionanocomposites as industrial materials, current and future perspectives: a review

The use of biopolymers in industrial applications remain elusive due to their hydrophilicity, poor barrier properties, etc. It has been of great interest to the research community to modify the inherent nature of bio-based materials by incorporating nanoscale fillers into the matrix. The resulting bionanocomposites show versatility as future biomaterials, providing a deft alternative to plastics. In general, bionanocomposites are made up of a matrix which is a biopolymer (continuous phase) and the reinforcing agent (dispersed phase), consisting of particles with dimensions in the range of 1–100 nm. The increased research in this field is driven by the biodegradable, biocompatible, and renewable nature of biomaterials. Bionanocomposites find broad applications in food packaging, automobile industries, electronic industries, cosmetics, textile industries, water purification sectors, tissue engineering, etc. A range of approaches have been utilized for the preparation of bionanocomposites including solution casting and 3D printing. However, much more green and sophisticated processing techniques should be developed for industrial applications. Furthermore, precise control over geometry, porosity, internal architecture, etc. is still challenging and need to be overlooked carefully. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]