Effect of maleic anhydride (MA) and glycerol triacetate (GTA) compatibilisers on the properties of compression moulded pineapple leaf fibre reinforced polylactic acid green composite

Abstract

ABSTRACT Green composites are area of interest among researchers due to its eco-friendliness. This paper investigates the fabrication and characteristics of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) green composites with and without the addition of maleic anhydride (MA) and glycerol triacetate (GTA). Green composites can be applied in single-use short-term applications, like packaging and biomedicals. In this study, the green composites undergo investigation for thermal, mechanical, dynamic and morphological characteristics to find the effect of PALF loading in PLA, with and without compatibilisers. The compatibilising effects were established in FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The impact strength increases by 3.3% and 6.5%, respectively, for MA and GTA compatibilisers while an increase of 3.85% and a decline of 1.4% in case of tensile strength was noticed. The morphological studies show a poor interfacial bonding and dispersion attributed to the failure of the on GTA compatibilised composites.