Thermo-mechanical response of kenaf/PLA biocomposites to clay nanoparticles infusion

Abstract

This work focused on studying the behaviour of thermo-mechanical properties of kenaf fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites infused with clay nanoparticles. Kenaf/PLA biocomposites infused with different nanoclay contents of 0, 3, 5 and 7%wt with respect to PLA were fabricated using resin casting method. Thermo-mechanical properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). TGA results showed an improvement in the thermal stability of the biocomposites as nanoclay content was increased due to thermal barrier effects of nanoclays. DMA results showed that storage and loss moduli increased with increase in nanoclay content up to 5%wt nanoclay loading after which a reduction was observed, whilst tandelta gradually decreased with increase in nanoclay content. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the biocomposites reduced with increase in nanoclay content. This was due to nanoclays which infused themselves into the biocomposite phase structure improving crystallinity. Tg also reduced due to agglomeration effects at high nanoclay loading. Consequently, the infusion of clay nanoparticles into kenaf/PLA biocomposites improved the thermo-mechanical properties of the biocomposites. Optimum improvements were achieved with 5%wt nanoclay loading.