Fabrication, characterization, and application of biocomposites from poly(lactic acid) with renewable rice husk as reinforcement

• Published in: Journal of polymer research Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Wu, Chin-San, Tsou, Chi-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acrylic acid; Biodegradability; Biodegradable materials; Biomedical materials; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; Coupling agents; Filaments; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Morphology; Original Paper; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; Tensile properties; Three dimensional printing; Water absorption; Three-dimensional networks structures; Poly(lactic acid) (PLA); Rice husk (RH); Surface treatment; 3D printing application; Coupling agent-treated
• ISSN: 1022-9760; 1572-8935
• DOI: 10.1007/s10965-019-1710-z

Filaments for three-dimensional printing were fabricated from composites based from biodegradable Poly(lactic Acid) (PLA) and renewable rice husk (RH). Acrylic acid (AA)-grafted PLA (PLA-g-AA) and coupling agent-treated rice husk (TRH) were incorporated to improve the properties of PLA/RH biocomposites. The biocomposite morphology, tensile properties, water absorption, and biodegradability were investigated. PLA-g-AA/TRH demonstrated superior tensile properties than PLA/RH because of the improved compatibility between the polymer and the TRH. TRH was evenly dispersed in the PLA-g-AA, brought about by ester reaction; consequently, branched and three-dimensional networks structures were generated. These PLA-g-AA/TRH biocomposites can be used as biodegradable materials or filaments for 3D printing applications because of their low cost and excellent properties.