Abstract
Eco-friendly completely biodegradable biocomposites have been fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA) and banana fiber (BF) employing melt blending technique followed by compression moulding. BF’s were surface treated by NaOH and various silanes viz. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and bis-(3-triethoxy silyl propyl) tetrasulfane (Si69) to improve the compatibility of the fibers within the matrix polymer. Characterization studies have been suggested that a better fiber matrix interaction because of the newly added functionalities on the BF surface as a result of chemical treatments. In comparison with the untreated BF biocomposite, an increase of 136% in tensile strength and 57% in impact strength has been observed for Si69 treated BF biocomposite. DSC thermograms of surface treated BF biocomposites revealed an increase in glass transition and melting transition due to the more restricted macromolecular movement as a result of better matrix fiber interaction. The thermal stability in the biocomposites also increased in case of biocomposite made up of BF treated with Si69. Viscoelastic measurements using DMA confirmed an increase of storage modulus and low damping values for the same biocomposite. Biodegradation studies of the biocomposites have been investigated in Burkholderia cepacia medium through morphological and weight loss studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wollerdorfer M, Bader H (1998) Influence of natural fibers on the mechanical properties of biodegradable polymers. Ind Crops Prod 8:105–112
Oksman K, Skrifvars M, Selin JF (2003) Natural fibers as reinforcement in polylactic acid (PLA) composites. Compos Sci Technol 63:1317–1324
Luo S, Netravali AN (1999) Interfacial and mechanical properties of environment-friendly green composites made from pineapple fibers and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) resin. J Mater Sci 34:3709–3719
Okubo K, Fujii T (2002) Eco-composites using bamboo and other natural fibers and their mechanical properties. In: Proceedings of the international workshop on “Green” composites, pp 17–21
Plackett D, Andersen TL, Pedersen WB, Nielsen L (2003) Biodegradable composites based on polylactide and jute fibers. Compos Sci Technol 63:1287–1296
Nishino T, Hirao K, Kotera M, Nakamae K, Inagaki H (2003) Kenaf reinforced biodegradable composite. Compos Sci Technol 63:111–126
Benjamin B, Ssig JM (2008) Impact and tensile properties of PLA/Cordenka and PLA/flax composites. Compos Sci Technol 68:1601–1607
Mohanty AK, Wibowo A, Misra M, Drzal LT (2004) Effect of process engineering on the performance of natural fiber reinforced cellulose acetate biocomposites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf 35:363–370
Jacobson S, Degee P, Fritch H, Dubosis G (1999) Polylactide (PLA): a new way of production. Polym Eng Sci 39:1311–1319
HerreraFranco PJ, Valadez-Gonza′lez A (2004) Mechanical properties of continuous natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf 35:339–345
Masud S, Huda A, Drzal LT, Mohanty AK, Misra M (2008) Effect of fiber surface-treatments on the properties of laminated biocomposites from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and kenaf fibers. Compos Sci Technol 68:424–432
Morales J, Olayo MG, Cruz GJ, Herrera-Franco P, Olayo R (2006) J Appl Polym Sci 101:3821
Verma CN, Khazanchi SK (1989) SEM and strength characteristics of acetylated sisal fiber. J Mater Sci Lett 8:1307–1309
Mishra S, Tripathy MSS, Nyak SK, Mohanty AK (2001) Potentiality of pineapple leaf fiber As reinforcement in PALF-polyester composites; surface modification and mechanical performance. J Reinf Plast Comp 20–24:321–334
Seung-Hwan L, Siqun W (2006) Biodegradable polymer/bamboo fiber biocomposites with bio-based coupling agent. Compos Part A 37:80–90
Mohanty AK, Mishra M, Drazal LT (2001) Surface modification of natural fiber and performance of the resulting biocomposites: an overview. Comos Interf 8–5:313–343
Zhang SM, Liu J, Zhou W, Guo XD (2005) Interfacial fabrication and property of hydroxyapatite/polylactide resorbable bone fixation composites. Curr Appl Phys 5:516–521
Sreekala MS, Kumaran MG, Thomas S (1997) Oil palm fibers: morphology, chemical composition, surface modification, and mechanical properties. J Appl Polym Sci 66:821–835
Agrawal R, Saxena NS, Sharma KB, Thomas S, Sreekala MS (2000) Activation energy and crystallization kinetics of untreated and treated oil palm fiber reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites. Mater Sci Eng 277:77–82
Alvarez VA, Vazquez A (2006) Influence of fiber chemical modification procedure on the mechanical properties and water absorption of MaterBi-Y/sisal fiber composites. Compos Part A 37:1672–1680
Trindade WG, Hoareau W, Razera IAT, Ruggiero R, Frollini E, Castellan A (2004) Phenolic thermoset matrix reinforced with sugar canebaggase fibers; attempt to develop a new fiber surface chemical modification involving formation of quinones flowed by reaction with furfuryl alcohol. Macromol Mater Eng 289:728–736
Ray D, Sarkar BK, Basak RK, Rana AK (2004) Thermal behavior of vinylester resin matrix composites reinforced with alkali-treated jute fibers. J Appl Polym Sci 94:123–129
Canche-Escamilla C, Trujillo GR, Herrera-Franco PJ, Mendizabal E, Puig JE (1997) Preparation and characterization of henequen cellulose grafted with methyl methacrylate and its application in composite. J Appl Polym Sci 66:339–346
Huda MS, Drzal LT, Mohanty AK, Misra M (2006) Chopped glass and recycled newspaper as reinforcement fibers in injection molded poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites: a comparative study. Compos Sci Technol 6:1813–1824
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jandas, P.J., Mohanty, S. & Nayak, S.K. Renewable Resource-Based Biocomposites of Various Surface Treated Banana Fiber and Poly Lactic Acid: Characterization and Biodegradability. J Polym Environ 20, 583–595 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-012-0415-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-012-0415-8