In this work, hybrid composite materials were made
from the combination of waste silk fibers (WSFs) and
poplar wood flour (PWF) as reinforcement, recycled
polycarbonate (RPC) as polymer matrix, and silane as
coupling agent. RPC was obtained from waste compact
discs. The effects of fiber type and loading on the
mechanical and physical properties of the composites
were studied. Experimentally, it was found that the
weight content of PWF is a key parameter that would
substantially influence the mechanical properties of
the samples. The obtained results showed that tensile
and flexural strengths and moduli of the composites
were significantly enhanced with the addition of biofibers
in both types (fiber and flour), as compared with
neat RPC. However, the increase in WSFs and PWF
contents substantially improved the notched Izod
impact strength, but reduced the thermal stability. The
significant improvements in mechanical properties of
the composites with the incorporation of WSF and
PWF were further supported by scanning electron
microscopy micrographs. Composites containing more
fraction of WSF exhibited higher water absorption (WA)
compared with PWF-filled composites. In addition,
composite with higher WSF and PWF (30 wt%) loading
showed maximum WA during the whole duration of
immersion.