Fire‐Safe Switchboard From Epoxy Composites Reinforced With Shaving and Buffing Dust for Waste Valorization

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop composite electric switchboards using shaving dust and buffing dust in combination with bamboo fiber (BF) and epoxy resin, focusing on reducing, recycling, and reusing harmful tannery solid waste. Composite boards were fabricated from tannery solid waste (TSW) by blending varying proportions of SD (8%–12%), BD (6%–10%), BF (fixed at 2%), and epoxy resin (78%–84%) with a fixed 8% hardener. The intermolecular bonding, adhesion properties, and other material properties were evaluated using FTIR, TGA‐DTG, FESEM, EDX, AAS, and XRD analysis techniques. The composite electric switchboard (SBB), composed of 4% shaving and buffing dust, 8% hardener, 2% bamboo fiber, and 82% epoxy resin, exhibited significant improvements in mechanical and electrical properties, such as tensile strength (29.21 N/mm 2 ), surface resistance (5.09 GΩ), and hardness (78 Shore D), than other experimental samples. The SBB composite boards showed better performance, including greater degradability in water (3.1%) and soil (23.5%) after 3 months, flame resistance (9.34 s), and electrical insulation properties, compared to other prepared switchboard samples. This novel approach of valorizing tannery solid waste (TSW) by incorporating buffing and shaving dust into functional composites offers an effective strategy to mitigate environmental pollution while addressing waste management challenges in the leather industry. As an alternative to plastic switchboards, prepared composite boards can be utilized in electrical switchboards, socket covers, indoor panels, and interior items.