Abstract
As a result of industrialization and environmental pollution, increasing importance is being given to eco-friendly materials and technology. In particular, eco-friendly biocomposites using polylactic acid (PLA) have attracted great interest. In this work, fiber-reinforced composites were investigated in order to enhance the mechanical properties and improve the economic efficiency of PLA. Specifically, composite materials using natural fibers, such as kenaf were actively studied. In the utilization of natural fibers, such as kenaf, the treatment method for increasing the bonding force between the fiber and the matrix is very important. In this study, the surface of kenaf was treated using an acetylation technique, and the PLA composite material was prepared using surface-treated kenaf. Changes in fiber properties were observed with acetylation treatment time. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, and water absorption resistance of the acetylated kenaf and PLA composites prepared for each condition were evaluated. Finally, was concluded that acetylation treatment is effective for improving the performance of PLA/kenaf composites. This behavior was found to relate to the surface cleaning of acetylated kanaf, in addition to the efficient modification of the hydrophilic characteristics of kenaf.
Highlights
In recent years, increasing research attempts have been directed towards addressing environmental problems and the global warming associated with increased CO2 emissions [1].due to the increased use of plastic products, disposal and decomposition of waste plastics, as well as the pollution of soils are becoming serious issues
Kenaf fibers were made less hydrophilic through acetylation
Conclusions kenaf–polylactic acid (PLA) composites were enhanced when the introduced acetyl constituted over 25% of the mass of In fibers
Summary
In recent years, increasing research attempts have been directed towards addressing environmental problems and the global warming associated with increased CO2 emissions [1]. The use of biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is an approach towards solving these problems These biopolymers are intended to substitute non-biodegradable polymers based on petroleum-based synthetic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, which are commonly used [2]. Acetylation can be used to control hygroscopic properties, dimensional stability, durability, and the physical properties of plant-based materials and composites This chemical modification strategy is regarded as an inexpensive, simple method for lowering the surface energy characteristics of natural fibers to make them more compatible with common polymers [11,17]. This study will focus on the improvement of mechanical properties, thermal properties, water resistance, and interfacial adhesion of the biocomposites
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