Open Access

ARTICLE

Reactive Compatibilization of Short-Fiber Reinforced Poly(lactic acid) Biocomposites

by Phornwalan Nanthananon, Manus Seadan, Sommai Pivsa-Art, Hiroyuki Hamada, Supakij Suttiruengwong

1 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
3 Department of Material and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, Thailand
4 Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City 606-8585, Japan

*Corresponding author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2018, 6(6), 573-583. https://doi.org/10.32604/JRM.2018.00129

Abstract

Poor interfacial adhesion between biobased thermoplastics and natural fibers is recognized as a major drawback for biocomposites. To be applicable for the large-scale production, a simple method to handle is of importance. This work presented poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with short-fiber and three reactive agents including anhydride and epoxide groups were selected as compatibilizers. Biocomposites were prepared by one-step melt-mixing methods. The influence of reactive agents on mechanical, dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of PLA biocomposites were investigated. Tensile strength and storage modulus of PLA biocomposites incorporated with epoxide-based reactive agent was increased 13.9% and 37.4% compared to non-compatibilized PLA biocomposite, which was higher than adding anhydride-based reactive agent. SEM micrographs and Molau test exhibited an improvement of interfacial fiber-matrix adhesion in the PLA biocomposites incorporated with epoxide-based reactive agent. FTIR revealed the chemical reaction between the fiber and PLA with the presence of epoxide-based reactive agents.

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