ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF RESEARCH IN POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

Resumen

Composite materials are mixtures of two or more components with distinct compositions, where one component serves as the matrix and the other as the reinforcement. The main types of matrices are ceramics, metals, and polymers. However, the use of polymers presents challenges such as proper waste management and concerns about environmental impacts. Natural-based polymers obtained from renewable sources offer a potential solution to these challenges. This bibliometric study aims to analyze the state of the art in the use of polymer matrix composites with natural reinforcements, providing valuable insights for future research. Data were collected from the Scopus® database, covering the period from 2014 to 2022 and including only English-written documents, totaling 357 publications. The annual scientific production showed significant variation during the analyzed period. Brazil emerged as the leading country in this field's publications. Composite materials find applications in construction, architecture, packaging, furniture and interior design, toys, and biomedical industries. Bibliometric analysis plays a crucial role in determining research directions, identifying gaps in the discussion, and discovering promising areas for future investigations.