On the Use of Dolomite as a Mineral Filler and Co-Filler in the Field of Polymer Composites: A Review

Abstract

Polymers are being used in many applications all around the world. However, there are some drawbacks in the properties of polymers that could hamper their usage in certain applications. Therefore, a new material polymer composite was introduced. A polymer composite is a polymer-based material with the addition of a filler. Many researchers have reported the improvement in the properties of a polymer when a filler was introduced. This helps minimize the disadvantages of using a polymer. As a result, polymer composite products can be used in many industries, such as automobile, aerospace, biomedical, and packaging. Fillers derived from natural minerals, such as dolomite, are among the best reinforcement materials for polymeric materials because they are plentiful and low cost, have high rigidity and hardness, and even have tailorable surface chemistry. The use of dolomite as a filler in a polymer composite system has gained increasing attention in recent years after researchers successfully proved that it is capable of improving the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of various polymeric materials. However, chemical or physical treatment/modification of raw dolomite is needed in order to prepare it as an efficient reinforcing filler. This procedure helps to improve the performance of the resultant polymer composites. This article reviews the usage of dolomite as a filler in a variety of polymeric materials and how it improved the performance of the polymer composite materials. It also highlights several methods that have been used for the purpose dolomite’s treatment/modification. Furthermore, the role of dolomite as a co-filler or a hybrid filler in a polymer composite system is also discussed, revealing the great potential and prospect of this mineral filler in the field of polymer composites for advanced applications.

Strategies towards Producing Non-Polar Dolomite Nanoparticles as Nanofiller for Copolymer Nanocomposite

“…It is a type of sedimentary carbonate rock primarily composed of the dolomite mineral. Dolomite comes from a diverse range of sources; it can be found in lakes or beneath shallow seafloors, and it can also be found in early to late burial settings [ 10 ]. Dolomite can be developed through two possible mechanisms, which are direct precipitation and the dolomitization process.…”

“…Perlis’s dolomite is an alkaline earth oxide with a primary composition of CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 and minor impurities such as ferrite and silica. It also contains magnesium ore that is only active when calcined at temperatures above 850 °C and under atmospheric pressure [ 10 ]. Dolomite minerals have a similar chemical composition to calcite minerals.…”

“…Recently, the use of dolomite as a filler in polymer composites has shown an increasing trend [ 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. The introduction of dolomite as a filler was intended to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of polymer composite forms [ 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…Recently, the use of dolomite as a filler in polymer composites has shown an increasing trend [ 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. The introduction of dolomite as a filler was intended to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of polymer composite forms [ 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In addition, the availability of dolomite as a natural resource of the universe gives an advantage to the use of this mineral as a cheap filler, since it can lower the cost of producing products based on polymer composites.…”

“…In general, the particle size becomes smaller as the speed and duration increase. The high-speed rotation of the jar and revolution of the disk make the balls move strongly and violently, leading to the fine grinding of the product due to the generation of a large ball-impact energy [ 10 , 27 ]. Several researchers have reported the use of a planetary ball mill to reduce the particle size of dolomite to a submicron size [ 17 , 28 ].…”