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Eco-friendly “green” composites made from flax fibers and biodegradable corn starch-based matrix were successfully prepared by hot pressing. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was obtained by blending native corn starch with glycerin and water. The plasticized starch was emulsified before being added to the previously NaOH-treated flax fibers. The flax content was varied from 20 to 80 wt%. The composites were preheated and then pressed at 5 MPa and 160°C for 30 minutes. Density measurements showed low porosity for all composites up to 50 wt% fibers. SEM investigation showed strong adhesion at fiber-matrix interface and good fibers wettability. Static tensile and flexural mechanical properties (stiffness and strength) of the composites appeared to increase with the fiber weight fraction increase up to 50 wt%. Increasing fiber content also improved composite stability in thermal degradation, water uptake and biodegradation. Some micromechanical models are used to study the tensile strength and modulus of the obtained composites such as the Kelly-Tyson and Halpin–Tsai equations. The present work shows that 50 wt% composite has competitive properties, qualifying this material to be affordable and appropriate for different applications.

Environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, “green” composites were fabricated from starch-based matrix and bagasse (sugar cane waste) fibers. Native corn starch was mixed with glycerin and water, emulsified then added to the bagasse fibers previously prepared and treated by NaOH. The composite was preheated, then pressed for 30 minutes at 5 MPa and 170°C. SEM showed good adhesion between fibers and matrix up to 60wt% fibers. Density measurements showed low porosity for all composite samples up to 60wt% fibers. Both the tensile and flexural strengths increased as the fiber weight fraction increased from 0% to 60%. Water Uptake and thermal degradability tests showed higher stability for composite with increasing fiber content. The results show that the 60wt% bagasse fiber starch-based composite is an eco-friendly and inexpensive candidate for many applications.