Open Access

ARTICLE

Revolutionizing Biodegradable and Sustainable Materials: Exploring the Synergy of Polylactic Acid Blends with Sea Shells

by Prashanth K P^1,*, Rudresh M², Venkatesh N³, Poornima Gubbi Shivarathri⁴, Shwetha Rajappa⁵

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, 560107, India
2 Department of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, 560111, India
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bangalore, 560001, India
4 Department of Chemistry, New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore, 560103, India
5 Department of Sciences and Humanities, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, 560074, India

* Corresponding Author: Prashanth K P. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Biodegradable Polymer and Biomass Composites)

Journal of Renewable Materials 2024, 12(12), 2115-2134. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2024.055437

Received 27 June 2024; Accepted 14 October 2024; Issue published 20 December 2024

Abstract

This study explores the mechanical properties of a novel composite material, blending polylactic acid (PLA) with sea shells, through a comprehensive tensile test analysis. The tensile test results offer valuable insights into the material’s behavior under axial loading, shedding light on its strength, stiffness, and deformation characteristics. The results suggest that the incorporation of sea shells decrease the tensile strength of 14.55% and increase the modulus of 27.44% for 15 wt% SSP (sea shell powder) into PLA, emphasizing the reinforcing potential of the mineral-rich sea shell particles. However, a potential trade-off between decreased strength and reduced ductility is noted, highlighting the need for a delicate balance in material composition. The study underscores the importance of uniform sea shell particle distribution within the PLA matrix for consistent mechanical performance. These results offer a basis for additional PLA-sea shell blend optimization, directing future efforts to balance strength, flexibility, and other critical attributes for a range of applications, including biomedical devices and sustainable packaging. This investigation opens the door to more sustainable and mechanically strong materials in the field of additive manufacturing by demonstrating the positive synergy between nature-inspired materials and cutting-edge testing techniques.

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Keywords

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