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Ar. Jeyapandian,
M. HemaPriya,
J. Faney,
- Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Tamil Nadu, India
- Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, PERI Institute of Technology, Mannivakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
The increasing need for sustainable, durable, and performance-based construction materials has led to the emergence and use of polymer composite materials in civil infrastructure. The benefits of such materials include the strength-to-weight ratio, being non-corrosive, flexible designs, and lower maintenance. This review focuses on the sustainable polymer composite materials, such as the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials, the natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites, the recycled plastic composite, and bio-based polymer composites, especially their uses in civil engineering infrastructure.
This review highlights the main components, which consist of polymer matrixes, fiber reinforcements, fillers, and additives, and their manufacturing methods. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, compressive strength, bending strength, rigidity, impact strength, and fatigue are analyzed for these composites. Special emphasis is placed on the durability of the composites in the light of environmental degradation, moisture absorption, UV radiation, thermal degradation, chemical corrosion, and mechanical loads. Sustainable aspects of the composite materials include resource usage, carbon emissions, energy consumption, service life, maintenance, and recycling.
Moreover, the paper brings out examples of how such composites can be utilized in construction of bridges, buildings, transport infrastructure, pipelines, marine structures, and structural repair. The paper also focuses on some recent technological advancements in the use of sustainable polymer composite material which includes the use of bio-based polymer matrix, nanocomposites, self healing material, smart sensing material and recyclable polymer systems. However, despite the many potentials, several issues surrounding the material have limited its utilization. These include durability, fire resistance, moisture uptake, life cycle management, cost and lack of standard testing and design. It is therefore important for future research to focus on field validation, recycling, life cycle assessment, evaluation and durability modeling.
Keywords: Sustainable polymer composites; Fiber-reinforced polymer composites; Natural fiber composites; Recycled plastic composites; Bio-based polymer composites; Civil infrastructure.
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 05 | ||
| Received | 11/08/2026 | |
| Accepted | 26/08/2026 | |
| Published | 22/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 72 Days |