Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing need for materials that are environmentally friendly and have functional properties. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biomass-based polymer, which has attracted research attention as an eco-friendly material. Various studies have been conducted on functionality imparting and performance improvement to extend the field of application of PLA. Particularly, research on natural fiber-reinforced composites have been conducted to simultaneously improve their environmental friendliness and mechanical strength. Research interest in hybrid composites using two or more fillers to realize multiple functions are also increasing. Phase change materials (PCMs) absorb and emit energy through phase transition and can be used as a micro encapsulated structure. In this study, we fabricated hybrid composites using microcapsulated PCM (MPCM) and the natural fibrous filler, kenaf. We aimed to fabricate a composite material with improved endothermic characteristics, mechanical performance, and environmental friendliness. We analyzed the endothermic properties of MPCM and the structural characteristics of two fillers and finally produced an eco-friendly composite material. The PCM and kenaf contents were varied to observe changes in the performance of the hybrid composites. The endothermic properties were determined through differential scanning calorimetry, whereas changes in the physical properties of the hybrid composite were determined by measuring the mechanical properties.
Highlights
Polymer-based packaging materials are increasingly utilized because they are easy to process, can be molded into a variety of designs, and are lightweight [1,2,3]
The basic characteristics of the microcapsulated Phase change material (PCM) (MPCM) used in this study were analyzed
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to identify the endothermic part of MPCM
Summary
Polymer-based packaging materials are increasingly utilized because they are easy to process, can be molded into a variety of designs, and are lightweight [1,2,3]. The demand for materials with special functionality is increasing owing to their use in diverse applications such as ultraviolet (UV). Absorption, special heating, and thermal shielding [4]. Polymer-based packaging materials are developed as eco-friendly materials to mitigate environmental problems caused by waste generated during use [7,8]. PLA is biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and can be used in various applications, such as bio-plastic. The use of these biodegradable materials can reduce the burden on Polymers 2019, 11, 349; doi:10.3390/polym11020349 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
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