Mechanical Properties of Polylactide Matrix Composite Reinforced with Long Maize Stalk Fibers

Abstract

The aim of presented study was to investigate the eff ect of using long rotation maize stalk fi bers as fi ller on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of an injection molded biocomposite with a polylactide matrix using diff erent fi ber percentages. To evaluate the eff ect of maize stalk particle reinforcement on the PLA matrix, the mechanical properties of the biocomposites including tensile strength, tensile modulus, relative strain at maximum stress, strain at break, stress at break and Charpy unnotched impact strength were determined. From a mechanical point of view, the best fi ber content was at 15% as it caused the least reduction in strain at break, stress at break, and strain at maximum stress relative to the polylactide matrix.