Abstract
Mechanical properties such as tensile modulus and strength, elongation-at-break, and impact strength of poly(lactic acid)/ethylene-co-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, vinyl acetate content 18 weight %)/Teak wood flour (TWF) composites were evaluated at TWF volume fractions ranging from Φf = 0.1–0.32. Tensile modulus showed an initial increase up to Φf = 0.25 and the parameter decreased marginally at Φf = 0.32, however, remaining much higher than that at Φf = 0. The increase in modulus was attributed to the generation of mechanical restrains by TWF. This mechanical restrains decreased ductility of the composites which also decreased the impact strength. The composite structure was evaluated by comparing the tensile properties with predictive theories, of two-phase models. TWF decreased the thermal stability of the composite, although char yield enhanced due to decomposition of cellulosic bodies in TWF. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies indicated decrease in the crystallinity of the crystallizable component PLA in the presence of TWF particles in the polymer blend matrix. The biodegradation studies were undertaken to evaluate the biodegradation of the composite under soil burier condition.
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