Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhanced Interfacial Adhesion and Characterisation of Recycled Natural Fibre-Filled Biodegradable Green Composites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The structural, thermal, mechanical, and biodegradable properties of composite materials made from polylactide (PLA) and agricultural residues (arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) fibre, AF) were evaluated. Melt blended glycidyl methacrylate-grafted polylactide (PLA-g-GMA) and coupling agent-treated arrowroot fibre (TAF) formed the PLA-g-GMA/TAF composite, which had better properties than the PLA/AF composite. The water resistance of the PLA-g-GMA/TAF composite was greater than that of the PLA/AF composite; the release of PLA in water from the PLA/AF and PLA-g-GMA/TAF composites indicated good biological activity. The PLA-g-GMA/TAF material had better mechanical properties than PLA/AF. This behaviour was attributed to better compatibility between the grafted polymer and TAF. The results indicated that the Tg of PLA was increased by the addition of fibre, which may have improved the heat resistance of PLA. Furthermore, the mass losses following burial in soil compost indicated that both materials were biodegradable, especially at high levels of AF or TAF substitution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Franeker JAV, Law KL (2015) Seabirds, gyres and global trends in plastic pollution. Environ Pollut 203:89–96

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Wong SL, Ngadi N, Abdullah TAT, Inuwa IM (2015) Current state and future prospects of plastic waste as source of fuel: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 50:1167–1180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li WC, Tse HF, Fok L (2016) Plastic waste in the marine environment: a review of sources, occurrence and effects. Sci Total Environ 566–567:333–349

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Reddy MM, Vivekanandhan S, Misra M, Bhatia SK, Mohanty AK (2013) Biobased plastics and bionanocomposites: current status and future opportunities. Prog Polym Sci 38:1653–1689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shah AA, Hasan F, Hameed A, Ahmed S (2008) Biological degradation of plastics: a comprehensive review. Biotechnol Adv 26:246–265

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rossi V, Cleeve-Edwards N, Lundquist L, Schenker U, Dubois C, Humbert S, Jolliet O (2015) Life cycle assessment of end-of-life options for two biodegradable packaging materials: sound application of the European waste hierarchy. J Clean Prod 86:132–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Unmar G, Mohee R (2008) Assessing the effect of biodegradable and degradable plastics on the composting of green wastes and compost quality. Bioresour Technol 99:6738–6744

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ingrao C, Tricase C, Cholewa-Wójcik A, Kawecka A, Rana R, Siracusa V (2015) Polylactic acid trays for fresh-food packaging: a carbon footprint assessment. Sci Total Environ 537:385–398

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tian H, Tang Z, Zhuang X, Chen X, Jing X (2012) Biodegradable synthetic polymers: preparation, functionalization and biomedical application. Prog Polym Sci 37:237–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zuo YF, Gu J, Qiao Z, Tan H, Cao J, Zhang Y (2015) Effects of dry method esterification of starch on the degradation characteristics of starch/polylactic acid composites. Ind Crops Prod 72:391–402

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Södergård A, Stolt M (2002) Properties of lactic acid based polymers and their correlation with composition. Prog Polym Sci 27:1123–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pivsa-Art S, Kord-Sa-Ard J, Sijong W, Pivsa-Art W, Ohara H, Yamane H (2016) Biodegradation in landfilled biodegradable micro-braided yarn. Energy Procedia 89:282–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Iahnke AOES., Costa TMH, Rios ADO, Flôres SH (2015) Residues of minimally processed carrot and gelatin capsules: potential materials for packaging films. Ind Crops Prod 76:1071–1078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yates MR, Barlow CY (2013) Life cycle assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers—a critical review. Resour Conserv Recycl 78:54–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gurunathan T, Mohanty S, Nayak K (2015) A review of the recent developments in biocomposites based on natural fibres and their application perspectives. Compos A 77:1–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wu CS (2012) Preparation, characterization, and biodegradability of renewable resource-based composites from recycled polylactide bioplastic and sisal fibers. J Appl Polym Sci 123:347–355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Yan L, Kasal B, Huang L (2016) A review of recent research on the use of cellulosic fibres, their fibre fabric reinforced cementitious, geo-polymer and polymer composites in civil engineering. Compos B 92:94–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Onuaguluchi O, Banthia N (2016) Plant-based natural fibre reinforced cement composites: a review. Cem Concr Compos 68:96–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Laborel-Préneron A, Aubert JE, Magniont C, Tribout C, Bertron A (2016) Plant aggregates and fibers in earth construction materials: a review. Constr Build Mate 111:719–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Omrani E, Menezes PL, Rohatgi PK (2016) State of the art on tribological behaviour of polymer matrix composites reinforced with natural fibers in the green materials world. Eng Sci Technol 19:717–736

    Google Scholar 

  21. Korjenica A, Zachb J, Hroudová J (2016) The use of insulating materials based on natural fibers in combination with plant facades in building constructions. Energy Build 116:45–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Väisänen T, Haapala A, Lappalainen R, Tomppo L (2016) Utilization of agricultural and forest industry waste and residues in natural fiber-polymer composites: a review. Waste Manag 54:62–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wu CS, Hsu YC, Yeh JT, Liao HT, Jhang JJ, Sie YY (2013) Biocompatibility and characterization of renewable agricultural residues and polyester composites. Carbohydr Polym 94:584–593

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Shih YF (2007) Mechanical and thermal properties of waste water bamboo husk fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Mater Sci Eng A 445–446:289–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Abdelmouleh M, Boufi S, Belgacem MN, Dufresne A (2007) Short natural-fibre reinforced polyethylene and natural rubber composites: effect of silane coupling agents and fibres loading. Compos Sci Technol 67:1627–1639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mittal V, Akhtar T, Luckachan G, Matsko N (2015) PLA, TPS and PCL binary and ternary blends: structural characterization and time-dependent morphological changes. Colloid Polym Sci 293:573–585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wu TY, Yang MC, Hsu YC (2015) Improvement of cytocompatibility of polylactide by filling with marine algae powder. Mater Sci Eng C 50:309–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Martins MA, Forato LA, Mattoso LHC, Colnago LA (2006) A solid state 13C high resolution NMR study of raw and chemically treated sisal fibers. Carbohydr Polym 64:127–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Park SJ, Cho KS (2003) Filler–elastomer interactions: influence of silane coupling agent on crosslink density and thermal stability of silica/rubber composites. J Colloid Interface Sci 267:86–91

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Chirayil CJ, Joy J, Mathew L, Koetz J, Thomas S (2014) Nanofibril reinforced unsaturated polyester nanocomposites: morphology, mechanical and barrier properties, viscoelastic behaviour and polymer chain confinement. Ind Crops Prod 56:246–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Wu CS, Liao HT, Jhang JJ (2013) Palm fibre-reinforced hybrid composites of poly(butylene succinate): characterisation and assessment of mechanical and thermal properties. Polym Bull 70:3443–3462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Yussuf AA, Massoumi I, Hassan A (2010) Comparison of polylactic acid/kenaf and polylactic acid/rise husk composites: the influence of the natural fibers on the mechanical, thermal and biodegradability Properties. J Polym Environ 18:422–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Wu CS, Liao HT (2012) Polycaprolactone-based green renewable ecocomposites made from rice straw fiber: characterization and assessment of mechanical and thermal properties. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:3329–3337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Du Y, Yan N, Kortschot MT (2014) A simplified fabrication process for biofiber-reinforced polymer composites for automotive interior trim applications. J Mater Sci 49:2630–2639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kim HS, Lee BH, Lee S, Kim HJ, Dorgan JR (2011) Enhanced interfacial adhesion, mechanical, and thermal properties of natural flour-filled biodegradable polymer bio-composites. J Therm Anal Calorim 104:331–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author thanks the National Science Council (Taipei City, Taiwan, R.O.C.) for financial support (MOST-105-2622-E-244-002-CC3).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Cosmetology, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung County, 82101, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chin-San Wu

Authors
  1. Chin-San Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chin-San Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, CS. Enhanced Interfacial Adhesion and Characterisation of Recycled Natural Fibre-Filled Biodegradable Green Composites. J Polym Environ 26, 2676–2685 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1160-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1160-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation