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. 2023 Oct 2;13(1):16534.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42613-0.

Preparation, characterization, and life cycle assessment of banana rachis-recycled high-density polyethylene composites

Demis Cabrera  1   2 , Haci Baykara  3   4 , Ariel Riofrio  5 , Mauricio Cornejo  1   5 , Julio Cáceres  5
Affiliations

Preparation, characterization, and life cycle assessment of banana rachis-recycled high-density polyethylene composites

Demis Cabrera et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Agro-industrial wastes are sustainable resources that have advantages as a reinforcement for polymeric matrices. This study examined the use of banana rachis fiber (BRF) in reinforcing the recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) matrix. For this purpose, polymer composites with 5-20 wt% of BRF were prepared by the extrusion process using a twin-screw extruder and followed a hot press method. The structure of rHDPE/BRF composites and their characteristic peaks of degradation were successfully identified by the Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis techniques, respectively, revealing a good dispersion of BRF in rHDPE. Differential scanning calorimetry results of the composites demonstrated that melt enthalpy decreases as the amount of BRF increases. XRD diffractograms revealed a crystallinity reduction of rHDPE due to the increase of fiber within the polymer matrix, which is reflected in the characteristic peaks' intensity decrease of HDPE. Variation in thermal and chemical properties with the addition of BRF in rHDPE was successfully evaluated in this study. Life cycle assessment for 1 kg composite production has also been evaluated. The banana rachis-rHDPE composite materials reduce the overall environmental impacts when the filler concentration increases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
System boundaries considered for the inventory in the LCA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of all the DSC results obtained for the different formulations.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of all the FTIR results obtained for the different formulations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of all X-ray diffractograms obtained for rHDPE and rHDPE + BRF composites.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The diffractogram of rHDPE and its main characteristic peaks.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XRD of rHDPE and rHDPE + BRF composites.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Comparison of all the TGA results obtained for rHDPE and rHDPE + BRF composites.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Comparison of all the rheology results obtained for rHDPE and rHDPE + BRF composites.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The microstructure of rHDPE and rHDPE + BRF composites and the shape of the samples' remaining parts analyzed after the IZOD impact test.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Normalized impact results for all rHDPE + BRF composites.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Process contribution of some impact categories for rHDPE + BRF 80/20 sample preparation.
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