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Biodegradable polymers are an exceptional class of polymers that can be decomposed by bacteria. They have received significant interest from researchers in several fields. Besides this, biodegradable polymers can also be incorporated with fillers to fabricate biodegradable polymer composites. Recently, a variety of ionic liquids have also been applied in the fabrication of the polymer composites. In this brief review, two types of fillers that are utilized for the fabrication of biodegradable polymer composites, specifically organic fillers and inorganic fillers, are described. Three types of synthetic biodegradable polymers that are commonly used in biodegradable polymer composites, namely polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polycaprolactone (PCL), are reviewed as well. Additionally, the influence of two types of ionic liquid, namely alkylimidazolium- and alkylphosphonium-based ionic liquids, on the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of the polymer composites, is also briefly reviewed. This review may be beneficial in providing insights into polymer composite investigators by enhancing the properties of biodegradable polymer composites via the employment of ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids can typically be synthesized via protonation, alkylation, metathesis, or neutralization reactions. The many types of ionic liquids have increased their attractiveness to researchers for employment in various areas, including in polymer composites. Recently, ionic liquids have been employed to modify nanofillers for the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites with improved physicochemical properties. In this succinct review, four types of imidazolium-based ionic liquids that are employed as modifiers—specifically alkylimidazolium halide, alkylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, and alkylimidazolium bistriflimide—are reviewed. Additionally, three types of ionic liquid-modified nanofiller/polymer nanocomposites—namely ionic liquid-nanofiller/thermoplastic nanocomposites, ionic liquid-nanofiller/elastomer nanocomposites, and ionic liquid-nanofiller/thermoset nanocomposites—are described as well. The effect of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on the thermo-mechanico-chemical properties of the polymer nanocomposites is also succinctly reviewed. This review can serve as an initial guide for polymer composite researchers in modifying nanofillers by means of ionic liquids for improving the performance of polymer nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]