Development of Biodegradable Polymer Composites Reinforced with Fish Scales for Sustainable Applications

Tan, Si Yuan (2025) Development of Biodegradable Polymer Composites Reinforced with Fish Scales for Sustainable Applications. Final Year Project (Diploma), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

This study investigates the tensile properties of polyester composites reinforced with fish scale powder, aiming to explore a sustainable alternative for composite materials. Fish scales, an abundant by-product of the seafood industry, were cleaned, dried, ground, and sieved to produce a fine powder, which was then used as a reinforcement filler in varying weight percentages (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) within a polyester resin matrix. The composite samples were fabricated using the solution casting method, and tensile tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM D638 standards. The results indicated that incorporating fish scale powder influenced the mechanical performance of the composites. While tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing filler content, Young’s modulus peaked at 20 wt.%, indicating an optimal increase in stiffness at this formulation. Beyond this point, performance declined due to poor filler dispersion and increased brittleness. Therefore, the 20 wt.% fish scale composites were identified as the best-performing sample. This project demonstrates the potential of fish scale powder as a low-cost, eco-friendly reinforcement material in polymer composites, supporting sustainable material development and promoting waste valorization in manufacturing.