High-Content Lignocellulosic Fibers Reinforcing Starch-Based Biodegradable Composites: Properties and Applications

Abstract

Natural source-based composites became promising substitutes and synthetic petrochemical-based counterparts. So far, thermoplastic starch and lignocellulosic fibers are the most common materials for making such eco-friendly "green" materials. Low cost, abundance, and renewability are the factors that lead to deploying these two types of materials. In this chapter, we are conducting further analysis for previously published results of six types of high-content natural fiber-reinforced starch-based composites. All composites were prepared by compression molding under pressure from 5 to 20 MPa and temperature from 130 to 160°C. Composites exhibited highest tensile strength and modulus of elasticity at fiber weight content from 50 to 70%, and then mechanical properties deteriorated significantly at 80% fiber content due to the insufficient starch resin. For instance, the tensile strength was boosted up from 2-12 MPa for thermoplastic starch to reach 55,45,32,28,44, 365 MPa for flax, bagasse, date palm fiber (DPF), banana, bamboo, and hemp composites, when fiber content was increased from 0% to the optimum fiber content (50-70%). Kelly-Tyson (random 2d) was the optimum model to predict random fiber composite. Increasing the fiber content and choosing a fiber with high cellulose content significantly improve the moisture resistance of the composites. Fick's law of diffusion predicted the water uptake property successfully. The thermal stability of composites was improved with increasing the fiber weight content as well. This is attributed to the high thermal stability of cellulose when compared to starch. Properties exhibited by starch-based high-content natural fiber composite are promising for many industrial and biomedical applications.

Study on mechanical and morphological properties of sisal/banana/coir fiber-reinforced hybrid polymer composites

“…The debonding at the interface between fiber and matrix during the pull out of fiber through the composite may create an extensive frictional energy loss which in addition contributes to fracture toughness [20]. Table 3 shows the comparative analysis of mechanical properties [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

“…Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of Epoxy composite with some composites reported[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] …”

Spanish Poplar Biomass as a Precursor for Nanocellulose Extraction

“…Global annual production of this biopolymer is roughly calculated to be 1.3 × 10 10 metric tons [2]. Lignocellulosic biomass encompasses: (1) agriculture wastes (palm residues, empty fruit bunch, straw, bagasse, corncob, and stover), (2) forest wastes (branches, unwanted stems, and withered leaves), (3) food wastes, and (4) industrial wastes (waste paper, and demolished wood) [3]. Ample of lignocellulosic residues and their capacity to act as a "carbon sink" promoted their use in more than 200 applications, comprising construction materials, moderate strength composites, adhesives, packaging, coatings, dental fillings, implants, scaffolding, and drug delivery [2,4,5].…”

Effect of Babassu Mesocarp Incorporation on the Biodegradation of a PBAT/TPS Blend

“…Despite displaying lower water uptake than neat TPS, the mechanical properties of PBAT/TPS blends remain low for many applications . The addition of vegetable fibers such as wood, flax, bagasse, date palm, banana, jute and kapot to TPS is a way of improving some of these properties (mechanical, thermal), while not compromising its biodegradation or, preferably, accelerating it …”

“…Despite displaying lower water uptake than neat TPS, [11] the mechanical properties of PBAT/TPS blends remain low for many applications. [12,13] The addition of vegetable fibers such as wood, flax, bagasse, date palm, banana, jute and kapot to TPS is a way of improving some of these properties (mechanical, thermal), [14][15][16][17][18][19] while not compromising its biodegradation or, preferably, accelerating it. [14,18] Although there are several reports on the use of TPS with lignocellulosic fibers, few of those are about the biodegradation of PBAT/TPS blends, [20][21][22][23] and none of them deal with the biodegradation of PBAT/TPS/lignocellulosic fiber systems.…”