Biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) matrix and reinforced with natural fiber fabrics: The effect of fiber type and compatibilizer content

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) was reinforced with either bamboo or jute fabric to produce 30 wt% composites. However, hydrophobic PLA and hydrophilic natural fiber are incompatible. Hence, maleic anhydride grafted PLA (PLA-g-MA) used as compatibilizer. In this study, effect of grafting reactants content, maleic anhydride (MA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on MA grafting degree of PLA-g-MA were optimized using Taguchi experimental design. Synthesized PLA-g-MA exhibiting highest MA grafting degree used as compatibilizer at 3 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% for 30 wt% composites. These compatibilized 30 wt% composites were investigated for their water absorption, thermal stability, thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties. PLA-g-MA addition at 3 wt% onto 30 wt% bamboo/PLA or at 5 wt% onto 30 wt% jute/PLA enhanced their interfacial adhesion, increasing their T g , T m , X c , tensile, flexural, impact and storage modulus but reduced their water absorption, T cc and damping factor. Further PLA-g-MA addition above 3 wt% onto 30 wt% bamboo/PLA or above 5 wt% onto 30 wt% jute/PLA adversely affected their water absorption, thermal, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. This was attributed to excess uncoupled PLA-g-MA acting as plasticizer. Adverse effects also observed for their thermal stability when PLA-g-MA was added onto 30 wt% bamboo/ PLA or 30 wt% jute/PLA. This was attributed to higher grafting reactant content, MA and less thermally stable PLA-g-MA.

Distinct strategy for the improvement of conductivity and electromagnetic shielding properties of MWCNTs/PLA/PBS composites: Synergistic effects of double percolation structure and UV aging

“…PBS (1020MD, density = 1.22 g/cm 3 , T m = 110-120 C, MFI = 25 g/10 min examined by ISO 1133) was purchased from Showa Polymer Corporation, Japan. PLA (4032D, density = 1.24 g/cm 3 , T m = 160-170 C, T g = 65 C, M w = 2.0 Â 10 5 g/mol) was purchased from NatureWorks, USA.…”

“…PBS (1020MD, density = 1.22 g/cm 3 , T m = 110-120 C, MFI = 25 g/10 min examined by ISO 1133) was purchased from Showa Polymer Corporation, Japan. PLA (4032D, density = 1.24 g/cm 3 , T m = 160-170 C, T g = 65 C, M w = 2.0 Â 10 5 g/mol) was purchased from NatureWorks, USA. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, outer diameter = 5-15 nm, purity 98%) were purchased from Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu Organic Chemistry Co., Ltd., China.…”

“…In recent decades, continuous deeply following the green developing idea, accelerating the achievement of carbon neutrality, have spurred global scientific and industrial communities to search more bio-based and biodegradable polymers and further replace traditional petroleum-based polymers as soon as possible for various commercial applications. [1][2][3] Polylactide (PLA), has been viewed the most promising frontrunner owing to its full biomass originability and biodegradability, good processability, high transparency, versatile mechanical properties, especially for tensile strength (above 65 MPa). [4][5][6][7] Meanwhile, a petroleum-based, while biodegradable polymers, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) that possesses excellent processability, [8,9] and good mechanical property, [10,11] has also been applied in various end-use applications, such as food packaging, [12,13] bio-tissue products, [14][15][16] and medical materials, [17][18][19] etc.…”

Enhanced mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of poly(lactic acid)/starch composite films using gelatinized starch acetate‐functionalized montmorillonite

“…[ 7,8 ] To overcome these disadvantages, the blending of PLA with cheap organic or inorganic fillers (e.g., starch, chitin, cellulose and clay) has been one of the most promising strategies. [ 9–14 ]…”

“…disadvantages, the blending of PLA with cheap organic or inorganic fillers (e.g., starch, chitin, cellulose and clay) has been one of the most promising strategies. [9][10][11][12][13][14] Starch, a renewable, widely sourced, biodegradable, and compostable bio-material, has been a good candidate for reducing the cost of PLA-based products. [15,16] PLA/starch blends with 10-50 wt% starches show excellent properties in terms of biodegradability and toughness.…”