ABSTRACT This study mainly focuses on the fabrication of ultraviolet (UV)‐resistant composites using tea waste and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) through a compression molding technique. Tea waste, rich in cellulose and possessing a fibrous structure, serves as a sustainable reinforcement material, enhancing the mechanical properties of composite materials. The composites were reinforced with varying amounts of nanoclay, namely montmorillonite (MMT) (i.e., 1, 3, and 5 phr) to investigate their effects on the overall performance. Comprehensive characterizations, including FTIR, TGA, LOI, and SEM, were performed to understand the properties of the composites. The findings revealed that the composite with 3 phr nanoclay demonstrated superior properties due to enhanced interactions between the components. However, at 5 phr nanoclay loading, a decrease in properties was observed, likely caused by the tendency of nanoclay to agglomerate within the polymer matrix, which impaired the composite's effectiveness. This study underscores the potential of tea waste as a valuable resource in developing mechanically robust UV‐resistant composites, with optimal nanoclay content for achieving the best performance.
Dutta et al. (Wed,) studied this question.