Improving Agricultural Waste Reduction through Clay-Based Superhydrophobic Polymer Composites

Rozhkova O. Ibraimova D. Rozhkov V. Musabekov K. Maryinsky S. Kulichikhin V.
July-August 2025 Unique Scientific Publishers

International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences
2025 #14 Issue 4 664 - 673 pp.

The study aims to develop environmentally sustainable polymer composites using superhydrophobic clay (SHC) fillers derived from natural Kazakh deposits. These composites are designed to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of agricultural packaging materials, thereby reducing polymer waste and extending product lifespan in agro-industrial applications. Two types of natural clays – montmorillonite from the Tagan deposit and halloysite from the Beloe Glinishche deposit – were modified using octadecylamine (ODA) and tetrakis(decyl)ammonium bromide (TKAB) to obtain SHC powders with contact angles exceeding 170º. These SHCs were incorporated into polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) matrices at varying concentrations (1–10%) using melt-mixing techniques. The resulting nanocomposites were analyzed through rheological, mechanical, and thermal testing, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Both MMT SHC and HNT SHC showed excellent dispersion in nonpolar polymer matrices and significantly improved the composites’ tensile strength, flexural modulus, and thermal stability – even at low filler concentrations (1–3%). Contact angles of 170° (MMT SHC) and 172° (HNT SHC) demonstrated highly stable lotus-effect properties. Sedimentation tests confirmed their high colloidal stability in nonpolar environments, while XRD and IR analyses verified successful intercalation of surfactants into the clay structure. The incorporation of superhydrophobic clay fillers into PE and PP matrices enhances composite durability and mechanical performance, offering a promising pathway toward reducing agricultural polymer waste. These findings support the use of local, eco-friendly clay resources to develop high-performance biocompatible composites for sustainable agricultural applications.

Karaganda hallosyte clay , Organoclay , Polypropylene nanocomposites , Rheological properties , Tagan montmorillonite clay

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Science and Technology Solutions, JSC, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Altai Geological and Ecological Institute LLP, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation

Science and Technology Solutions
Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University
Al Farabi Kazakh National University
Altai Geological and Ecological Institute LLP
A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis

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