Wood cellulose fibers reinforced polylactic acid composite: Mechanical, thermomechanical characteristics and orientation of fiber

Abstract

The wood cellulose fiber (WCF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) offers cost effectiveness, ease of mass production, short processing time, structural stability, high quality and efficient recyclability. In the study presented orientation of fiber, microstructure and thermomechanical property of composites are beingexamined by using X-ray tomography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA). Also, the mechanical properties of WCF-PLA-MAH composites were characterized and analyzed. The results demonstrated that the best outcome of elastic modulus and tensile strength were accomplished at 30%WCF-PLA-3%MAH composite. The DMA result explains that by adding MAH in WCF-PLA as an interfacial coupling agent enhanced the storage modulus and increased the toughness of WCF-PLA composite by decreasing the tanδ peak. X-ray tomography of the PLA/WCF/FB composite shows that the degree of anisotropy is accomplished 25% higher when WCF was 30% in PLA matrix. In addition, the SEM micrograph shows that when MAH was used the interfacial compatibility between the PLA matrix and WCF improved.