Sustainable biocomposites based on polylactic acid and agro waste biofillers for lightweight applications: Fabrication and properties
M. Ramesh, L. Rajeshkumar, Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Suchart Siengchin
Abstract
The utilization of agricultural biomass residues as biofillers in polymer composites enhances the evolution of green and sustainable biocomposites that assist in progressing towards sustainable development goals. Agricultural biomass residues such as peels, seeds, stalks, and bunches increase with the increase in crop production. The current research focuses on evaluating the influence of waste pomegranate peel biofiller as a novel particulate reinforcement on the mechanical, thermal, and thermomechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based biocomposites. The pomegranate peel particulate biofillers were characterized using various characterization techniques. Different concentrations of biofillers ranging from 5–25 wt. % was used for the preparation of PLA-based composites. The fabricated composites were subjected to various mechanical and thermal tests. The experimental investigations showed that 15 wt. % of biofiller-reinforced biocomposites exhibited a 13.6 % increase in tensile strength, 42 % increase in tensile modulus, 9.34% increase in compressive strength, 41% in impact strength, and 26 % increase in hardness and better thermal and thermomechanical behaviour when compared with virgin PLA. The failure morphology of the biocomposites portrayed better interfacial bonding between composite constituents. It can be concluded from this study that the pomegranate peel powder can act as potential biofiller reinforcements for producing biocomposites for various lightweight structural applications. Hybridization with biofibers and other biofillers may enhance the application spectrum of these biocomposites further.