Authors: A A Yussuf I Massoumi A Hassan
Publish Date: 2010/04/24
Volume: 18, Issue: 3, Pages: 422-429
Abstract
This paper investigates and compares the performances of polylactic acid PLA/kenaf PLAK and PLA/rice husk PLARH composites in terms of biodegradability mechanical and thermal properties Composites with natural fiber weight content of 20 with fiber sizes of less than 100 μm were produced for testing and characterization A twinscrew extrusion was used to compound PLA and natural fibers and extruded composites were injection molded to test samples Flexural and Izod impact test TGA soil burial test and SEM were used to investigate properties All results were compared to a pure PLA matrix sample The flexural modulus of the PLA increased with the addition of natural fibers while the flexural strength decreased The highest impact strength 34 J m−1 flexural modulus 45 GPa and flexural strength 90 MPa were obtained for the composite made of PLA/kenaf PLAK which means kenaf natural fibers are potential to be used as an alternative filler to enhance mechanical properties On the other hand PLARH composite exhibits lower mechanical properties The impact strength of PLA has decreased when filled with natural fibers this decrease is more pronounced in the PLARH composite In terms of thermal stability it has been found that the addition of natural fibers decreased the thermal stability of virgin PLA and the decrement was more prominent in the PLARH composite Biodegradability of the composites slightly increased and reached 12 and 08 for PLAK and PLARH respectively for a period of 90 days SEM micrographs showed poor interfacial between the polymer matrix and natural fibers
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