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Chemically Functionalized Plant Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes for High Compatibility and Reinforcement in Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composite

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Abstract

In this study, surface modification is used to improve the compatibility of Kenaf fibers (KFs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, as well as to enhance the mechanical properties. Through the use of a silane coupling agent, the KF is grafted with functional groups to generate a chemical bond with the PLA; the modified KF shows high compatibility in the PLA matrix. Compared to the bare PLA, the optimal KF/MWCNT/PLA composite (PC1F30-OX) shows increases of 58% in tensile strength, and 113% in impact strength. A small addition of MWCNTs (1 wt%) dramatically improves the antistatic ability by lowering the surface resistance to 3.47 GΩ. With the addition of hydrophilic KF into the PLA, the composite becomes much more environmentally friendly, and the biodegradation rate can be controlled by the amount of KF added. The addition of hydrophilic KF allowed the composite to accommodate more enzyme to hasten the biodegradation; almost complete decomposition occurred after 11 weeks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Chaoyang University of Technology, No. 168, Jifeng E. Rd., Wufeng District, Taichung, 41349, Taiwan, ROC

    Po-Yuan Chen & Yeng-Fong Shih

  2. Department of Advanced Coating, Division of Applied Chemistry, Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, No.321, Sec.2, Kuang Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30011, Taiwan, ROC

    Hong-Yuan Lian & Su-Mei Chen-Wei

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  1. Po-Yuan Chen
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  2. Hong-Yuan Lian
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  3. Yeng-Fong Shih
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  4. Su-Mei Chen-Wei
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Correspondence to Yeng-Fong Shih.

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Chen, PY., Lian, HY., Shih, YF. et al. Chemically Functionalized Plant Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes for High Compatibility and Reinforcement in Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composite. J Polym Environ 26, 1962–1968 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1092-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1092-4

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