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. 2021 Jan 19;6(4):2856-2864.
doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05186. eCollection 2021 Feb 2.

Sustainable Biocomposites from Recycled Bale Wrap Plastic and Agave Fiber: Processing and Property Evaluation

Iftekhar H Chowdhury  1   2 , Mohamed A Abdelwahab  2 , Manjusri Misra  1   2 , Amar K Mohanty  2   1
Affiliations

Sustainable Biocomposites from Recycled Bale Wrap Plastic and Agave Fiber: Processing and Property Evaluation

Iftekhar H Chowdhury et al. ACS Omega. .

Abstract

Plastic recycling to make sustainable materials is considered one of the biggest initiatives toward a greener environment and socioeconomic development. This research aims to investigate the properties of a blend of recycled bale wrap linear low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE) and polypropylene (PP) (rLLDPE/PP 50:50 wt % matrix), which was further reinforced with 25 wt % agave fiber prepared by injection-molding. Different ratios of a combined industrial compatibilizer (maleic anhydride-grafted PP/PE) were used (1-3 wt %), which were compared with a synthesized compatibilizer made from maleic anhydride-PP/rLLDPE in terms of mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the biocomposites. Incorporation of the compatibilizer in the composite improved the interfacial adhesion between the hydrophobic matrix and the hydrophilic agave fiber, which further increased the mechanical properties and heat deflection temperature of the composite. Scanning electron microscopy showed enhanced compatibility and adhesion between the fiber and the matrix by inclusion of 2 wt % compatibilizer. The synthesized compatibilizer-blended composite showed better mechanical properties than the industrial one, which indicates the potential application of this composite (around 62% recycled material) in the manufacture of packaging materials and commodity products.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Tensile and flexural moduli and (b) tensile and flexural strengths of the composite prepared with the synthesized compatibilizer (Syn Comp) and industrial compatibilizer (Ind Comp).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Izod Impact strength (notched) and HDT of the composites prepared with the synthesized compatibilizer (syn comp) and industrial compatibilizer (ind comp).
Figure 3
Figure 3
FTIR data of the matrix (PP/rLLDPE 50:50), 25 wt % Agave, 2% industrial comp (Ind), and 2% synthesized compatibilizer (Syn) from (a) 3000–3800 cm–1, (b) from 500–4000 cm–1, and (c) 1600–1800 cm–1.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1. Possible Mechanism of the Reaction between Agave Fiber and the Bale Wrap rLLDPE and PP Matrix Prepared with an Industrial Compatibilizer (ind comp) or a Synthesized Compatibilizer (syn comp)
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM images of cryofracture of (a) PP/rLLDPE 50:50; (b,b′) 25% agave; (c, c′) 2% industrial compatibilizer (ind comp), and (d,d′) 2% synthesized compatibilizer (syn comp) samples.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Rheological properties (a) complex viscosity, (b) storage modulus G′, and (c) loss modulus G″ of the PP/rLLDPE 50:50 matrix, 25% agave; 2% industrial composites (ind comp), and 2% synthesized composites (syn comp) as a function of angular frequency at 180 °C and fixed strain of 1%.
Figure 6
Figure 6
DSC second heating curve of the composites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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