Reactive Compatibilization of Short-Fiber Reinforced Poly(lactic acid) Biocomposites

Facile Preparation and Characterization of Short-Fiber and Talc Reinforced Poly(Lactic Acid) Hybrid Composite with In Situ Reactive Compatibilizers

“…From the morphology results, a significant improvement in the interfacial adhesion between PLA matrix and fibers or talc in hybrid composites was found after adding multifunctional epoxide terpolymer. This phenomenon could be attributed to the reaction between the presence of the epoxide groups in the multifunctional epoxide terpolymer and the hydroxyl groups in the fibers or talc structure and the end group of the PLA molecular chain during the melt-blending process, as proved by FT-IR analysis of the extracted fibers (reported elsewhere) [ 10 , 29 ]. Huda and colleagues reported that the -OH in talc structure could react with MA- and GMA-grafted-PLA, which led to good compatibilization of PLA/talc compounds with good processability [ 12 ].…”

“…There are, however, few works carried out using natural fibers and particles reinforced PLA hybrid composites, for instance, PLA/newspaper fibers/talc [ 4 ], PLA/cellulose fiber/montmorillonite [ 7 ], PLA/cellulose fiber/nano calcium carbonate [ 7 ], and PLA/cellulose fiber/clay [ 6 ]. In our previous work on PLA biocomposites, the natural fiber from Bleach Eucalyptus Kraft Pulps (BEKP) was used as a reinforcing agent for PLA biocomposites due to its cost-effectiveness, whiteness, light weight, high purity of cellulose, high aspect ratio (40–50) and uniform diameter [ 10 ]. The addition of inorganic particle to polymer effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix [ 1 ].…”

“…However, such methods were time-consuming and difficult to scale up for large industrial production. Based on these aspects, in situ reactive processing can be introduced and applied for hybrid composite processing, allowing the possibility of increasing the interfacial adhesion with a cost-effectiveness in terms of the manufacturing technique [ 10 ]. Some of the current in situ compatibilizers used for each biopolymer blends have been investigated, such as Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) used in Poly(lactic acid)/Polybutylene succinate [ 18 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone [ 19 ], Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) used in Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polybutylene succinate [ 20 ] and PHB/Polybutylene succinate [ 21 ], Joncryl used in Poly(lactic acid)/PBSA [ 22 ], Poly(lactic acid)/Polypropylene carbonate [ 23 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/PBAT [ 24 ], PLA-g-GMA (glycidyl methacrylate grafted Poly(lactic acid) used in PLA/Starch [ 25 ], PLA-g-MA (Maleic anhydride-grafted Poly(lactic acid)) used in Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone [ 26 ], Poly(lactic acid)/Starch [ 27 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polybutylene adipate terephthalate [ 28 ].…”

“…Some of the current in situ compatibilizers used for each biopolymer blends have been investigated, such as Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) used in Poly(lactic acid)/Polybutylene succinate [ 18 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone [ 19 ], Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) used in Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polybutylene succinate [ 20 ] and PHB/Polybutylene succinate [ 21 ], Joncryl used in Poly(lactic acid)/PBSA [ 22 ], Poly(lactic acid)/Polypropylene carbonate [ 23 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/PBAT [ 24 ], PLA-g-GMA (glycidyl methacrylate grafted Poly(lactic acid) used in PLA/Starch [ 25 ], PLA-g-MA (Maleic anhydride-grafted Poly(lactic acid)) used in Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone [ 26 ], Poly(lactic acid)/Starch [ 27 ] and Poly( l -lactic acid)/Polybutylene adipate terephthalate [ 28 ]. From our previous work, different types of reactive agents including multifunctional epoxide-based reactive terpolymer (CEGMA, EAGMA) and maleic anhydride-based reactive terpolymer (EAMAH) were introduced as in situ reactive compatibilizer in the processing of PLA biocomposites [ 10 ]. It was found that CEGMA was the most effective compatibilizer for PLA and natural fiber biocomposite, as the optimal mechanical properties could be realized [ 10 ].…”

“…From our previous work, different types of reactive agents including multifunctional epoxide-based reactive terpolymer (CEGMA, EAGMA) and maleic anhydride-based reactive terpolymer (EAMAH) were introduced as in situ reactive compatibilizer in the processing of PLA biocomposites [ 10 ]. It was found that CEGMA was the most effective compatibilizer for PLA and natural fiber biocomposite, as the optimal mechanical properties could be realized [ 10 ]. Hao and colleagues studied the compatibilization between PLA and sisal fiber (SF) biocomposites using an epoxy-functionalized terpolymer elastomer (EGMA) as an in situ compatibilizer.…”