Preparation and properties of silane-treated banana fiber/poly(lactic acid) biocomposites

[摘要] Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with silane-treated banana fiber (BFSi) at various fiber contents was studied. Banana fiber surfaces were firstly treated by sodium hydroxide and subsequently by 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane. The biocomposites were then prepared by melt blending method in a twin-screw extruder. The effect of BFSi fiber contents on the mechanical and thermal properties of the biocomposites were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to reveal the cryo-fractured surfaces of the composites. Mechanical properties, thermal characteristics and thermal stability were carried out by universal testing machine, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), respectively. Interfacial adhesion between PLA matrix and BFSi fibers was significantly improved even fiber content up to 40% by weight. There were few fiber pull-outs or voids appeared. With increasing fiber contents, tensile modulus and strength increased while elongation at break decreased. Moreover, glass transition temperature (Tg) and cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) decreased, whereas, crystallinity (Xc) significantly increased, however, melting temperature (Tm) was almost intact when fiber contents increased. The composites with higher amount of fibers exhibited faster thermal decomposition and higher residue contents at 550C.

[发布机构] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom; 73000, Thailand^1

[效力级别] 材料工程

[关键词] Cold crystallization temperature;Differential scanning calorimeters;Interfacial adhesions;Mechanical and thermal properties;Melt-blending methods;Thermal characteristics;Thermogravimetric analyzers;Universal testing machines