Comparing Four Kinds of Lignocellulosic Biomass for the Performance of Fiber/PHB/PBS Bio-composites

Abstract

A new class of bio-composites was developed by utilizing four kinds of lignocellulosic biomass fiber (bagasse, bamboo, rice husk, and rice straw) as filling fibers. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in a mixture ratio of 7:3 were used as matrix materials with hot-press molding. The performance of the resulting composites was evaluated by compositional analyses, mechanical analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and morphological analysis. The interfacial adhesion, thermal stability, and comprehensive mechanical properties of the alkali treated bamboo/PHB/PBS composite were highest among the four bio-composites. The bending strength, tensile strength, and impact strength for alkali treated bamboo/PHB/PBS composite was 19.82 MPa, 12.97 MPa, and 4.30 kJ/m2, respectively. The thermal stability for NaOH modified bamboo/PHB/PBS composite was slightly superior to the other three composites, with the initial pyrolysis temperature of 248 °C, moderate pyrolysis speed, and the amount of pyrolysis residue (5.81%). The results showed the suitability of biomass fiber and biodegradable polymer for producing environmentally friendly composite materials.