Effects of Pulp Fiber and Epoxidized Tung Oil Content on the Properties of Biocomposites Based on Polylactic Acid

Van Khoi Nguyen,Thanh Tung Nguyen,Thu Ha Pham Thi,Thu Trang Pham

doi:10.3390/jcs4020056

Van Khoi Nguyen, Thanh Tung Nguyen + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4020056

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Abstract

Recently, various environmental-friendly materials have been investigated and developed, especially composites of polylactic acid (PLA) and plant fibers. This paper investigates the effects of pulp fiber (PF) and epoxidized Tung oil (ETO) content on the properties of biocomposites, based on polylactic acid. The bleached pulp fiber reinforced PLA (PLA/PF) composites with 10–50 wt% fiber contents and 0–15% epoxidized Tung oil contents (with a certain number of fiber) were prepared in an internal mixer (Plastograph® EC) at 150 °C. The mechanical properties of PLA/PF composites were improved significantly. The pulp fiber reinforced PLA composites, with the fiber content of 30 wt%, were found to have the highest mechanical properties. The tensile and flexural properties of PLA/Tung oil-soaked-pulp fiber composites were higher than those of PLA/Tung oil unsoaked pulp fiber composites. In addition, the degradation temperature of PLA-based composites decreased after adding more pulp fiber. The pulp fibers were well-dispersed in the PLA matrix with the content up to 30 wt%. The interaction between pulp fiber and PLA matrix improved by the addition of epoxidized Tung oil. Epoxidized Tung oil also improved tensile and flexural strength of composite materials when it was added with a number of below 10% of fiber.

Highlights

Over the last few decades, the natural fiber, reinforced polymer composites, have rapidly grown and are widely used in the academic and industrial applications due to the advantages of natural fibers, such as low density, lightweight, renewability, high specific strength, enhanced energy recovery, good thermal properties, non-toxicity, low cost and biodegradability [1]
The results showed that epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) improved, the interaction between pulp fiber and polylactic acid (PLA), and the tensile strength of composites by using at 5–8% content of ELO [16]
The aim of this study is to study the effects of pulp fiber and epoxidized Tung oil content on the properties of biocomposites, based on polylactic acid

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few decades, the natural fiber, reinforced polymer composites, have rapidly grown and are widely used in the academic and industrial applications due to the advantages of natural fibers, such as low density, lightweight, renewability, high specific strength, enhanced energy recovery, good thermal properties, non-toxicity, low cost and biodegradability [1]. Chemical treatment methods have been used to improve the compatibility between natural fibers and polymer matrix, such as alkaline treatment, coupling agents (silanes, acetylation, graft copolymerization), bleaching, enzyme, etc. This increases the interaction between fibers and polymer matrix, as well as improves the mechanical properties of the composites. The results showed that ELO improved, the interaction between pulp fiber and PLA, and the tensile strength of composites by using at 5–8% content of ELO [16]. A commonly used method to increase the interaction between fiber and polymer is adding plasticizers, especially vegetable oil-based plasticizers because of its availability, biodegradability, and low cost. The aim of this study is to study the effects of pulp fiber and epoxidized Tung oil content on the properties of biocomposites, based on polylactic acid

Materials

Mechanical Properties

Method

Mechanical Properties of Composites

Morphology Observation