article · Materials Chemistry and Physics
This research developed fully natural biocomposites by combining polylactic acid with biochar and treated fibres sourced from the Washingtonia filifera plant. The material properties were assessed through dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical analyses to understand how treatment duration alters performance. Treating the fibres with sodium bicarbonate improved the thermal stability and resistance of the biocomposites compared to untreated alternatives. Extending the fibre treatment period lowered the melting temperature of the materials. Testing revealed that the hybrid formulation treated for 72 hours exhibited the highest thermal stability and a significantly superior storage modulus of over 2621 MPa, reflecting enhanced stiffness. In contrast, biocomposites treated for 24 hours showed the lowest storage modulus. Structural evaluation through Cole-Cole plots confirmed the heterogeneous nature of the resulting hybrid biocomposites.
Developing fully bio-based composites from polylactic acid and plant waste offers an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. By identifying how chemical fibre treatments alter stiffness and heat tolerance, this research helps tailor sustainable materials for engineering uses requiring robust thermal and mechanical qualities.
The abstract notes that these biodegradable biocomposites are suitable for industrial applications. The findings could inform materials manufacturers seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, particularly where viscoelastic performance and thermal stability are required. The research appears to be early-stage, applied laboratory development focused on material formulation and thermal characterisation, with no specific commercial products or ready-to-market testing described.
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The purpose of this investigation was to develop 100% natural biocomposites from biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) based on treated fibers and biochar (B) derived from the Washingtonia filifera (WF) plant. The dynamic mechanical characteristics, coefficient of thermal expansion, and thermal stability (TS) of biocomposites were studied using dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical analyses. Increasing the fiber treatment period caused the melting temperature of the biocomposites to decrease. The PLA-BWF72 composite demonstrated better TS compared to the others. Compared to untreated hybrid biocomposites, these composites exhibit enhanced TS and resistance following treatment with sodium bicarbonate. The dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PLA-BWF72 hybrid biocomposites (2621.987 MPa) had a significantly higher storage modulus (SM) than the biocomposites produced. However, PLA-BWF24 hybrid biocomposites showed the lowest SM (2299.174 MPa), indicating a low level of stiffness. Cole-Cole plots of the hybrid biocomposites developed revealed the presence of imperfect semicircles, indicating their heterogeneity. • Green biocomposites from polylactic acid (PLA) based on treated fibers and biochar. • Characterize biocomposite by using advance technique to evaluate its properties • DMA indicates that Biochar and treated fibres shows good viscoelastic characteristics. • Biocomposites from biodegradable materials suitable for industrial applications
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DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130651
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