Properties of coconut shell powder-filled polylactic acid ecocomposites: Effect of maleic acid

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 1109 - 1116
• Main Authors: Chun, Koay Seong, Husseinsyah, Salmah, Osman, Hakimah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2013; Wiley; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic properties; Chemical properties; Composites; Composition; Elasticity; Exact sciences and technology; Fillers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Identification and classification; Lactic acid; Maleic acid; Mechanical properties; Organic chemicals; Physical properties; Polylactic acid; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymeric composites; Powders; Production processes; Properties; Scanning electron microscopy; Shells; Technology of polymers; Tensile strength; Thermal properties; Thermal stability; Malaysia; Elastic modulus; Mechanical properties; Dispersion reinforced material; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Glass transition temperature; Composite material; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Surface treatment; Polymer filler interaction; Thermal properties; Lactic acid polymer; Chemical modification; Morphology; Aliphatic polymer; Maleic acid; Concentration effect; Agricultural waste
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.23359

Ecocomposites were produced by incorporating coconut shell powder (CSP) into polylactic acid (PLA) resin. The effect of filler content and chemical modification on the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and morphology of PLA/CSP ecocomposites were investigated. The addition of filler has decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of PLA/CSP ecocomposites. However, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of PLA/CSP ecocomposites were enhanced by maleic acid treatment. Meanwhile, glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallinity (Xc) of PLA/CSP ecocomposites increased at 30 php of filler content and increased the presence of maleic acid (MA). However, the melting temperature (Tm) and crystallization temperature (Tc) were not significantly changed with the filler content and MA modification The thermal stability of PLA/CSP ecocomposites increased with the CSP content. The MA modification improved the thermal stability of PLA/CSP ecocomposites through better filler–matrix interaction. The improvement was confirmed by scanning electron microscope study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers