Abstract
The aim of the present work is to develop novel biobased lightweight material with improved
tensile and thermal properties. Spent tea leaf powder (STLP) is used as a filler to improve the
tensile and thermal properties of polypropylene carbonate (PPC). Tea is an important material of
hotels and household and spent tea leaf forms a conjugal solid waste. Composite films are
obtained by solution casting method. These films are characterized by Optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric
analysis and tensile testing to examine the effect of filler content on the properties of the
composites. The results have shown that composite films are having increased tensile strength
due to enhanced interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix. In addition, the composite
films have also exhibited higher thermal degradation temperatures compared to pure
polypropylene carbonate. The morphology results indicate that there is a good interface
interaction between STLP and PPC. Results of the study reveal STLP to be a promising green
filler for polymer plastics.