Preparation and Characterization of Polylactic Acid/Bamboo Fiber Composites

Abstract

The development of green and renewable materials has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Hence, biocomposite-based packaging materials have been investigated to replace petrochemical materials in several industries, such as the food packaging and electronics packaging industries. The tensile and thermal properties of biocomposite-based packaging materials composed of polylactic acid and plant fiber were mainly investigated in the current literature, but fewer studies on the improvement of water resistance and water vapor/oxygen barrier properties of composite materials were performed. Herein, we describe a composite film comprising TBFP [a mixture of bamboo fiber powder (BFP) and silica aerogel powder] that was combined with modified polylactic acid (MPLA) in a melt-mixing process. The structure, morphology, tensile strength, thermal properties, water absorption properties, water vapor/oxygen barrier effect, cytocompatibility, and biodegradability of the composites were characterized. MPLA and TBFP improved the properties of these composites. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction spectra have shown interfacial adhesion of MPLA/TBFP, resulting in a tighter structure. Hence, the MPLA/TBFP composite had higher elongation at failure (ε), tensile strength at failure (δ), Young’s modulus (E), initial decomposition temperature at 5 wt % loss (T 5%), residual yields, oxygen transmission rate, contact angles, lower thermal conductivity (k) values, water vapor transmission rate, and water absorption and biodegradability compared with PLA and PLA/BFP. It indicates that the MPLA/TBFP composites exhibited more favorable tensile strength, water resistance, and water vapor/oxygen barrier than the PLA and PLA/BFP composites. Cell growth analysis showed that the MPLA/TBFP and PLA/BFP composites own good cytocompatibility. Moreover, the biodegradability of the PLA/BFP and MPLA/TBFP composites increased with the filler (BFP or TBFP) concentration. Because of these improvements in their properties, composites can be used as packing materials in many perspectives.

Development of Biodegradable Composites Using Polycaprolactone and Bamboo Powder

“…This could be due to the hydrophilicity of the bamboo fiber, which plays a vital role in decreasing the contact angles. The present study depicts a similar result as mentioned in the literature [ 55 ].…”

“…With the addition of BP, the water contact angle decreased due to the hydrophilic nature of BP. Wu et al [ 55 ] studied the wettability of bamboo fiber-reinforced PLA composites. It was found that the contact angle decreased with the increase in bamboo fiber content in the composite.…”

Effect of alkaline treatment on physical, structural, mechanical and thermal properties of Bambusa tulda (Northeast Indian species) based sustainable green composites

“…It was reported that bamboo fiber was treated with 0.1 N NaOH solution which resulted in an improvement in the interfacial properties between epoxy and fiber. Wu et al [ 16 ] developed biocomposites using Sasa longiligulata bamboo and PLA. The developed composite was tested mechanically, physically and thermally.…”

An overview of the recent advances in flame retarded poly(lactic acid)

“…Therefore, with the latest awareness of the environmental impact and strict environmental regulations of governments worldwide, people have begun to pay attention to the entire life cycle of products and have been extracting biodegradable materials from renewable resources. [4][5][6] Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a linear aliphatic polyester extracted from renewable resources such as sugarcane and starch. It can be completely degraded into CO 2 and H 2 O with no environmental pollution, thus becoming the most promising biodegradable plastic.…”

“…But most of them are derived from fossil resources and non‐degradable. Therefore, with the latest awareness of the environmental impact and strict environmental regulations of governments worldwide, people have begun to pay attention to the entire life cycle of products and have been extracting biodegradable materials from renewable resources 4–6 …”