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Fabrication of Poly(lactic acid)/Silkworm Excrement Composite with Enhanced Crystallization, Toughness and Biodegradation Properties

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Abstract

This study investigated and analyzed the mechanical and thermal properties as well as biodegradability of bio-plastic Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/silkworm excrement (PLA/SE) composites fabricated by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results demonstrated that SE enhanced the crystallization ability of PLA represented by the increased crystallinity. The tensile strength of PLA/SE composites did not enhance when adding SE due to SE particles became drawbacks while stretching as well as the lower tensile strength of SE than PLA. However, the impact strength of PLA/SE 10% was enhanced approximately 30.1%, comparing with neat-PLA. Biodegradation experiment showed that PLA/SE composites had faster and obvious disintegration in 7 weeks, especially PLA/SE 20% composite, which indicating SE enhanced the biodegradability of PLA. Additionally, neat-PLA and the PLA in PLA/SE composites can be fully biodegraded.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology; Taiwan Ministry of Education; Fujian university of technology; South China University of Technology; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), University of Wisconsin–Madison. Thanks to the help of Prof. Chao Chan Chang, and Prof. Lih-Sheng Turng.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, 350118, China

    Xiangfang Peng, Hui Fang & An Huang

  2. National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

    Qi-Hong Liao & Chao Chan Chang

  3. School of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Xiangfang Peng

  4. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Lih-sheng Turng

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  1. Qi-Hong Liao
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  2. Xiangfang Peng
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  3. Hui Fang
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  4. Lih-sheng Turng
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  5. An Huang
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  6. Chao Chan Chang
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Correspondence to An Huang or Chao Chan Chang.

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Liao, QH., Peng, X., Fang, H. et al. Fabrication of Poly(lactic acid)/Silkworm Excrement Composite with Enhanced Crystallization, Toughness and Biodegradation Properties. J Polym Environ 28, 295–303 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01595-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01595-9

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