J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 387-397.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2017.03.004

Special Issue: Composites 2018

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Glycidyl methacrylate-compatibilized poly(lactic acid)/hemp hurd biocomposites: Processing, crystallization, and thermo-mechanical response

Belas Ahmed Khana, Haining Nab, Venkata Chevalia, Philip Warnerc, Jin Zhub, Hao Wanga()   

  1. aCentre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
    bNingbo Institute of Industrial Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
    cEcofibre Industries Operations Pty Ltd, Maleny, QLD 4552, Australia
  • Received:2016-10-29 Revised:2017-01-11 Accepted:2017-02-24 Online:2018-02-10 Published:2018-02-10

Abstract:

Poly(lactic acid)-based biocomposites were developed with hemp hurd (Cannabis sativa L.) with grafting-based interfacial compatibilization. Poly(lactic acid) was extruded with hemp hurd and glycidyl methacrylate as the polymer/hurd interfacial compatibilizer, and injection molded. Interfacial compatibility between poly(lactic acid) and hemp hurd increased with grafted glycidyl methacrylate in comparison to the non-compatibilized control, as corroborated by scanning electron microscopy fractography and mechanical analysis, which showed increases in the glycidyl methacrylate-grafted 20% (w/w) hemp hurd/poly(lactic acid) biocomposite, retaining 94% of the neat polymer strength, with increases in crystallinity, and showing a range of thermo-mechanical properties desirable for rigid biocomposite applications.

Key words: Hemp hurd, Poly(lactic acid), Glycidyl methacrylate, Biocomposite, Injection molding, Mechanical properties