Biocomposites based on thermoplastic starch or polylactide/starch blends as the matrices filled with natural fibers

Abstract

The polymer composites of new generation, consisting of thermoplastic corn starch (BGS) or potato starch (S2 and S3) or blend of polylactide with starch (GBR) filled with natural fillers (wood flour or kenaf fibers, Table 1), for injection molding processing, were prepared. The degree of homogenization of biocomposite was characterized by SEM method (Fig. 1-4). Water absorption versus soaking time (Fig. 5, 6) was also determined. The basic static and dynamic mechanical properties and processing properties of the materials discussed were evaluated. The effects of temperature and soaking time (in water) up to 90 days on the strength properties were studied as well (Table 2, Fig. 7-12). It was found that biocomposites showed high modulus of elasticity and good resistance to long-term loading, pointing to possibility of their applications as technical products.