Abstract
The current work aims to study the effect of jute fiber (JF) on the characteristics and performance of a thermoplastic starch/poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PLA/PBAT) blend. TPS/PLA/PBAT/JF composites with a constant TPS:PLA:PBAT weight ratio of 60:30:10 and 5, 10, and 15 wt% additions of JF were fabricated using an extruder. The obtained green composites were then molded into test specimens using an injection molding machine. The TPS/PLA/PBAT/JF composites exhibited higher Young’s modulus and storage modulus but lower elongation at break and impact strength than the TPS/PLA/PBAT blend. The Young’s modulus and storage modulus of the composites significantly increased with increasing JF concentration. The crystallinity of PLA in the blend also increased with the addition of JF, while its Tg, Tcc, and Tm decreased. SEM confirmed a co-continuous phase structure of both TPS/PLA/PBAT blend and TPS/PLA/PBAT/JF composites; however, the phase size of each polymer decreased with the addition of JF. JF plays roles as a reinforcing agent, nucleating agent for PLA, and compatibility promoter between the TPS and PLA/PBAT phases. Although JF reduced thermal expansion, it retarded the biodegradation of the blend. The obtained green TPS/PLA/PBAT/JF composites have great potential as materials for biodegradable and environmentally benign injection-molded products.
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Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Mitrman Marketing & Engineering Co., Ltd., Thailand through the Research and Researchers for Industry Program [PHD57I0073]. The authors are also grateful to Park Chong Jute Mill Co., Ltd. (Thailand) for providing jute fiber, and to Mettler-Toledo Ltd. (Thailand) for the use of its DSC analyzer.
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Chanakorn Yokesahachart: Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing-Original draft, Visualization. Rangrong Yoksan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Data curation, Writing-review and editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Nattaporn Khanoonkon: Formal analysis, Investigation. Amar Kumar Mohanty: Resources, Supervision. Manjusri Misra: Supervision.
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Yokesahachart, C., Yoksan, R., Khanoonkon, N. et al. Effect of jute fibers on morphological characteristics and properties of thermoplastic starch/biodegradable polyester blend. Cellulose 28, 5513–5530 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-03921-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-03921-8