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ABSTRACT:The aim of present work is to study the behavior of completely biodegradable starch-based composites containing okra cellulosic fibers in the range from 5 to 25 wt%. The cornstarch matrix and composites were prepared by using urea-formaldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The cross-linked cornstarch matrix and its composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, thermal and different mechanical properties, i.e., tensile, compressive, and flexural strength of composites, were also studied. The thermal stability of fiber-reinforced composite was increased as compared to starch matrix. The mechanical properties of composite such as tensile, compressive, and flexural have been found to increase with the increase in fiber content up to 15% loading. The composite specimens tested for tensile, compressive, and flexural strength at 15% fiber loading exhibited values of 17.78 ± 0.89, 33.55 ± 1.67 and 60.1 ± 3.01 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the matrix and composites were subjected to biodegradation studies through the soil burial method. C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Technol 2016, 0, 21646; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com.

The grafting of vinyl monomers is an important method for replacing hydrophilic hydroxyl groups present on the surface of natural fibers by hydrophobic polymer chains. It improves the compatibility of natural fibers with polymer matrixes during the fabrication of natural-fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This article deals with the graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile onto Agave americana fibers in air in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate as a redox initiator. A maximum percentage grafting of 24% was obtained after the optimization of various reaction parameters, including the reaction time, temperature, and concentrations of nitric acid, initiator, and monomer. The graft copolymers obtained under the optimum conditions were then subjected to the evaluation of different physicochemical properties, including swelling behavior in different solvents, moisture absorption behavior under different humidity levels, and chemical resistance. The graft copolymers were further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis), and X-ray diffraction techniques.