Abstract
In recent years, researchers and industries have made efforts to decrease the reliance on fossil fuel-based materials due to the rise in environmental consciousness. A potential environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based, non-biodegradable polymeric materials is known to be natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable synthetic polymer that is water-soluble, easy to use, having film-formation property and good potential as a biodegradable matrix in environmentally friendly composites. The objective of this work has been to create a versatile, lightweight, flexible bio-composite based on nonwoven viscose fabric using PVA and a crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde), and to analyze the effects of the crosslinking agent and of the nonwoven viscose filler in the PVA matrix on the mechanical and UV properties of the composite. The structural, chemical and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated using FTIR, and tensile and UV testing. The results showed that the composite exhibited high tensile strength, but with a drop in elongation. FTIR verified the interaction of the two polymers in the composites. The flexible bio-composite can be potentially used for food packaging applications.
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