Enhanced mechanical properties, water resistance, thermal stability, and biodegradation of the starch-sisal fibre composites with various fillers

• Published in: Materials & design Vol. 198; p. 109373
• Main Authors: Ji, Maocheng, Li, Fangyi, Li, Jianyong, Li, Jianfeng, Zhang, Chuanwei, Sun, Kaiqiang, Guo, Ziyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Filler; Mechanical properties; Starch-sisal fibre composite; Thermal stability; Water resistance; Biodegradation; Mechanical properties; Filler; Water resistance; Starch-sisal fibre composite; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 0264-1275; 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2020.109373

The poor performance and high cost of the starch-sisal fibre composites with open-cell structures prevent their usage as biodegradable biomass to replace plastics. Therefore, inorganic fillers [talcum powder (TP), CaCO3 (CC)] and a bio-filler [eggshell powder (EP)] were added, and the resulting mechanical properties, water resistance, thermal stability and biodegradation characteristics were compared. Results show that the tensile strength of the EP-composite increases by 34% and the compressive strength of the CC-composite increases by 69% when compared with those of the non-filler (NF) composite. The mechanical properties of the composites improved because of the reduction of starch crystallinity and the formation of new hydrogen bonds. The EP-composite offered optimal cushioning owing to its uniform and dense open-cell structures. Besides, the CC- and EP-composites offered better thermal stability. The composites with fillers were more waterproof than the NF-composite (by approximately 33%). After conducting biodegradability tests for 30 days, the EP-composite lost 67% of its mass, which was more than those associated with the TP- and CC-composites and can be attributed to the presence of organic matter in the EP-composite. These results demonstrate the potential of EP to replace CC and TP for reinforcing the starch-fibre composites with open-cell structures. [Display omitted] •A filler-reinforced rapidly degradable starch-fibre composite with open-cell structures was prepared.•Both bio-fillers and inorganic fillers can improve the mechanical properties, thermal stability and water resistance.•Bio-fillers were advantageous for rapid biodegradation.•Bio-fillers (eggshell powder) have the potential to replace inorganic fillers (talcum powder and CaCO3).