Biocomposites from Cassava Pulp/Polylactic Acid/Poly(butylene Succinate)

In this study, effect of PBS content on physical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) blends was studied. The content of PBS was varied from 0 30 %wt. The blends were mixed using an internal mixer. The samples were prepared using a compression molding. It was shown that tensile strength and Youngs modulus of PLA/PBS blends were decreased with increasing PBS content from to 0 30 %wt. Nevertheless, elongation at break and impact strength of the blend were increased with increasing the amount of PBS up to 20 %wt. Polylactic acid grafted glycidyl methacrylate (PLA-g-GMA) was used as the compatibilizer in PLA/PBS/PLA-g-GMA blends. PLA-g-GMA was shown to improve interfacial adhesion between PLA and PBS. With the addition of PLA-g-GMA, mechanical properties of PLA/PBS blend were improved. The preparation of cassava pulp (CP) to be used as filler in PLA/PBS blends and PLA/PBS/PLA-g-GMA blends was studied. Effect of CP content on mechanical properties CP/PLA/PBS composites was studied. PLA-g-GMA was also used as compatibilizer in CP/PLA/PBS composites. The mechanical properties of CP/PLA/PBS composites were improved with the addition of PLA-g-GMA as well.