Production and development of biodegradable packaging from bio-based plastic/silane treated natural fiber composites

Abstract

This work aimed to study the improvement of mechanical properties and cost reduction of biodegradable packaging made from polylactic acid (PLA) by using sisal fiber. Because sisal fiber as natural fiber is good mechanical properties, biodegradable material and low cost. The variables studied were the addition of sisal fiber, surface treatment with epoxy silane and fiber direction. Their effects were investigated by tensile, flexural and impact testings and morphology analysis. The results suggested that the addition of sisal fiber increased Young’s modulus, Flexural modulus and ultimate tensile stress whereas elongation at break and impact strength tended to decrease. For the effect of surface treatment, it was found that tensile and flexural moduli increased with epoxy silane treatment but tensile, flexural and impact strengths slightly changed. Surface treatment by epoxy silane led to good interfacial bonding by hydrogen bonding between oxirane ring of epoxy silane and hydroxyl group of PLA. The effect of fiber direction revealed that tensile properties of composite in fiber direction of 0o were higher than those of composite in fiber direction of 45o. Fiber direction did not affect flexural and impact properties.