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The present research work develops an evaluation method based on the hybrid entropy-simple additive weighting approach to select the best biocomposite material based on several potentially conflicting criteria. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites with varying proportions of wood waste (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 by weight) was developed and evaluated for physical, mechanical, and sliding wear properties. The biocomposite containing 10 wt.% wood waste exhibited the lowest density (1.183 g/cm3) and highest modulus properties (tensile modulus = 2.97 GPa; compressive modulus = 3.46 GPa; and flexural modulus = 4.03 GPa). The bare PLA exhibited the highest strength properties (tensile strength = 57.96 MPa; compressive strength = 105.67 MPa; impact strength = 15.25 kJ/m2), whereas flexural strength (100.43 MPa) was the highest for 5 wt.% wood waste filled biocomposite. The wear of PLA decreased with 2.5 wt.% wood waste incorporated and increased with further addition of wood waste. The experimental results revealed a high compositional dependence with no discernible trend. As a result, prioritizing biocomposites' performance to choose the best from various biocomposite alternatives becomes tough. Therefore, a multi-criteria decision-making process based on a hybrid entropy-simple additive weighting approach was applied to find the optimal biocomposite by taking the experimental results as the selection criterion. The results show that the 2.5 wt.% wood waste added PLA biocomposite proved to be the best solution with optimal physical, mechanical, and wear properties. The validation with other decision-making models supports the robustness of the proposed approach in that the 2.5 wt.% wood waste added PLA biocomposite is the most dominating. This study contributes by providing preferences for the selection criteria and assessing the best alternative from the available PLA biocomposites.

As an emerging science, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine focus on developing materials to replace, restore or improve organs or tissues and enhancing the cellular capacity to proliferate, migrate and differentiate into different cell types and specific tissues. Renewable resources have been used to develop new materials, resulting in attempts to produce various environmentally friendly biomaterials. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer known to be biodegradable and it is produced from the fermentation of carbohydrates. PLA can be combined with other polymers to produce new biomaterials with suitable physicochemical properties for tissue engineering applications. Here, the advances in modified PLA as tissue engineering materials are discussed in light of its drawbacks, such as biological inertness, low cell adhesion, and low degradation rate, and the efforts conducted to address these challenges toward the design of new enhanced alternative biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When developing new innovative building materials, their performance characteristics as well as their environmental friendliness are important. It is difficult to produce a fully ecological material for building envelopes, because there is a lack of ecological binding materials on the market, good binding materials are very expensive, and cheaper ones have poorer adhesive properties and performance characteristics. In this work, natural organic sapropel was used as an ecological binder. Before use, an organic sapropel was additionally mechanically activated. Its activation efficiency was evaluated on the basis of consistency and tensile strength. Sapropel activation increased its consistency from 112 to 168 mm and its tensile strength from 466 to 958 kPa. Wood processing waste was used as a filler for the thermal insulation biocomposite. Additionally, the wood waste was chopped to regulate the density and main performance properties of the biocomposite. The density of the biocomposite was also regulated using different amounts of sapropel and the degree of compaction of the composite mixture. In this work, the influence of the amount of sapropel, the level of compression of the biocomposite mixture, and the size of the wood waste particles on the thermal conductivity and compressive stress of the biocomposite was analyzed. It was found that the compression level had the greatest influence on both the compressive stress and thermal conductivity, up to 12 times and 43.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrusion and hot compressing molding processes were used to create bio-polyethylene (BioPE) composites reinforced with argan byproducts (shell, pulp, and argan cake) as bio-fillers. The thermal stability of the composites wass analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Dynamical mechanical analysis and rheological testing were used to investigate their mechanical properties. The morphological results showed a good adhesion between the argan and BioPE matrix. More efficient mechanical properties have been distinguished in the case of argan byproduct-based composite. A higher Young's modulus was noted for all the biocomposites compared to pure BioPE. Thermal analysis revealed that the addition of bio-filler to polymer reduced decomposition temperatures. This study provides an ecological alternative for upgrading the valorization of abundant and underutilized Moroccan biomass. Furthermore, the possibility of using argan byproducts in composite manufacturing will help open up new markets for what is currently considered waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus is widely cultivated in China, and the residue of Astragalus particles (ARP) can be used as reinforcements in fused filament-fabricated (FFF) natural fiber/Poly(lactic acid)(PLA) biocomposites. To clarify the degradation behavior of such biocomposites, 3D-printed 11 wt% ARP/PLA samples were buried in soil, and the effects of soil burial duration on the physical appearance, weight, flexural properties, morphology, thermal stability, melting, and crystallization properties were investigated. At the same time, 3D-printed PLA was chosen as a reference. The results showed that, with prolonged soil burial, the transparency of PLA decreased (but not obviously), while the surface photographs of ARP/PLA became gray with some black spots and crevices; especially after 60 days, the color of the samples became extremely heterogeneous. After soil burial, the weight, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the printed samples all reduced, and greater losses happened to ARP/PLA pieces than pure PLA. With an increase in soil burial time, the glass transition, cold crystallization, and melting temperatures, as well as the thermal stability of PLA and ARP/PLA samples, all increased gradually. Additionally, soil burial had a greater effect on the thermal properties of ARP/PLA. The results showed that the degradation behavior of ARP/PLA was more significantly affected by soil burial than the behavior of PLA. Additionally, ARP/PLA more easily degraded in soil than PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most cases, plant containers used in the horticulture industry are not reusable, have many negative impacts on the environment, and take a long time to degrade. To reduce the use of non-biodegradable plant containers, many bio-degradable plant containers have been developed for the horticulture industry. However, the full potential of the sustainability of plant containers is yet to be completely explored. Therefore, two novel biodegradable plant containers are developed in this research to effectively contribute to sustainability's environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The two biocomposite formulations are developed by mixing soy hull and soy protein isolate (SPI) with polylactic acid (PLA) matrix for plant containers. In the first formulation, the proportion of PLA and soy hulls are 70 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively; in the second formulation, 65 wt% PLA is blended with 30 wt% soy hulls and 5 wt% SPI. The injection molding process is used to manufacture the plant containers from the two formulations. In a field trial, four plant species are grown in the novel plant containers along with polyethylene and commercial PLA/DDGS (dried distiller's grains with solubles and PLA-based container) containers to investigate biodegradability and plant growth. The results show that the containers from the new formulations outperform existing biodegradable PLA/DDGS containers in terms of certain plant growth and biodegradability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobased composites offer unique properties in the context of sustainable material production as well as end-of-life disposal, which places them as viable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based materials. However, the large-scale application of these materials in product design is hindered by their perceptual handicaps and understanding the mechanism of biobased composite perception, and its constituents could pave the way to creating commercially successful biobased composites. This study examines the role of bimodal (visual and tactile) sensory evaluation in the formation of biobased composite perception through the Semantic Differential method. It is observed that the biobased composites could be grouped into different clusters based on the dominance and interplay of various senses in perception forming. Attributes such as Natural, Beautiful, and Valuable are seen to correlate with each other positively and are influenced by both visual and tactile characteristics of the biobased composites. Attributes such as Complex, Interesting, and Unusual are also positively correlated but dominated by visual stimuli. The perceptual relationships and components of beauty, naturality, and value and their constituent attributes are identified, along with the visual and tactile characteristics that influence these assessments. Material design leveraging these biobased composite characteristics could lead to the creation of sustainable materials that would be more attractive to designers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concerns about plastic pollution and climate change have encouraged research into bioderived and biodegradable materials. Much attention has been focused on nanocellulose due to its abundance, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties. Nanocellulose-based biocomposites are a viable option to fabricate functional and sustainable materials for important engineering applications. This review addresses the most recent advances in composites, with a particular focus on biopolymer matrices such as starch, chitosan, polylactic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol. Additionally, the effects of the processing methods, the influence of additives, and the outturn of nanocellulose surface modification on the biocomposite's properties are outlined in detail. Moreover, the change in the composites' morphological, mechanical, and other physiochemical properties due to reinforcement loading is reviewed. Further, mechanical strength, thermal resistance, and the oxygen–water vapor barrier properties are enhanced with the incorporation of nanocellulose into biopolymer matrices. Furthermore, the life cycle assessment of nanocellulose and composites were considered to analyze their environmental profile. The sustainability of this alternative material is compared through different preparation routes and options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climacteric rise in the rate of respiration and ethylene production in harvested persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruits leads to early onset of fruit tissue senescence. Therefore, this study was carried out to maintain the quality of stored persimmons by using edible coatings. For this purpose, Aloe vera gel was combined with food hydrocolloids, gum arabic or tragacanth gum, and applied on persimmon fruits that were stored for 20 days at 20 ± 1 °C and 80–85% RH. Biocomposite coatings, compared to control, remarkably reduced weight loss, decay incidence, respiration rate, ethylene production, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, H2O2 and superoxide anion content in stored fruits. The use of composite coatings inhibited colour change by reducing the accumulation of total carotenoids, maintained higher antioxidative enzymes activity and suppressed the activity of cell wall degrading enzymes, resultantly preserving cell wall components. Composite coated fruits exhibited the least change in biochemical attributes and higher sensory scores in comparison with non-coated fruits at the end of the storage period. In conclusion, Aloe vera gel/gum arabic was the most effective coating treatment before storing persimmons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of growing plastic consumption, food waste by consumers and overproduction caused by economic reasons, the global goal is to decrease these phenomena. Biocomposite films investigated in the past years are creating a promising future toward ecological, intelligent and active packaging. Due to their unique properties, they can be used in many areas of our life and reduce the constantly increasing pollution of our planet. The aim of our study was to obtain innovative and flexible biopolymer films based on sodium alginate and chitosan, as well as to develop methods for generating nanocapsules with turmeric extract in them. Bionanocomposites were analyzed using UV-VIS, FTIR, photoluminescence spectroscopy and SEM microscopy, while contact angles, surface free energy, particle size (DLS) and zeta potential were determined. The mechanical and colorimetric properties of the produced films were investigated, and the water content, solubility and water absorption were determined. Microbiological tests were carried out to analyze the influence of the produced films on the development of microorganisms. The results of the performed analyses allowed us to confirm the presence of curcumin nano- and microcapsules in the alginate–chitosan composite. Moreover, studies have shown that the structure of polysaccharides does not change during capsule manufacturing. The film with the highest concentration of the capsules showed better parameters in tests of solubility, water content, degree of swelling and mechanical properties. The obtained properties of the developed films allow them to be used as active and intelligent packaging materials, or as their parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further explore the feasibility of the application of the residue of Chinese herbal medicine in FDM 3D technology and enrich the kinds of printing materials, Astragalus residue powder(ARP)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposite was FDM 3D-printed, meanwhile, two traditional biocomposites, i.e., wood flour (WF)/PLA and rice straw powder (RSP)/PLA, were prepared by the same method, and the properties of the biocomposites were comparatively investigated. The results showed that, the tensile and flexural strengths of ARP/PLA were 28.33 MPa and 97.60 MPa, respectively, which were 2.85% and 10.89% smaller than those of WF/PLA, while 15.73% and 7.04% greater than those of RSP/PLA. WF/PLA showed typical brittle fracture characteristics, ARP/PLA and RSP/PLA both showed ductile fracture, but not obviously. Among the three kinds of biocomposites, ARP/PLA was the most thermally stable, followed by WF/PLA and RSP/PLA in turn. The incorporation of natural plant powder had no significant effect on the glassy transition, melting, and cold-crystallization behaviors of PLA, but the crystallinity of PLA could be increased from 0.3% to 2.0% and 1.9%, respectively, by adding ARP and WF. At 20 °C, the storage modulus of ARP/PLA, WF/PLA and RSP/PLA was 2759.4 MPa, 3361.3 MPa, and 2691.5 MPa, respectively, indicating that WF/PLA has the greatest stiffness, and the stiffness of RSP/PLA was the least. In addition to these, all the biocomposites were hydrophilic, the contact angle of the distilled water on the surface of ARP/PLA, WF/PLA or RSP/PLA was correspondingly 73.5°, 77.6° and 71.2°. Overall, it can be concluded that ARP/PLA has moderate strengths, stiffness and wettability, meanwhile, it is the most thermal stable among the three biocomposites, and can be processed at a temperature close to that of PLA. ARP/PLA is suitable as a new kind of feedstock material for FDM 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of the print setting is important to achieve the desired product characteristics, which, in turn, reduce the effort of the manufacturer and the cost of production. Natural fiber reinforced PETG composites can be a potential 3D printing raw material for additive manufacturing of medical products like scaffolds, implants, prostheses, and orthoses. But the process parameters of this unique composite material need to be optimized for the fabrication of complex structures. Here, PETG-silk fibroin (PETG-SF) composites were printed by optimizing the process parameters based on single and multi-objective optimization techniques for responses such as minimum porosity, maximum dimensional accuracy, and maximum yield load. For accurate measurement of porosity and dimensional accuracy, micro-CT analysis was employed. Single objective optimization results indicate layer height and printing temperature as the highest contributing factor for maximum dimensional accuracy, maximum yield load, and for minimum porosity. Multi objective optimization result shows high temperature, low layer height, and low speed are the best settings for minimum porosity, maximum yield load, and maximum dimensional accuracy. Finally, the optimized parameters were used to print an organic shaped object to validate the results for the production of patient specific anatomically conformed prosthesis and implants. Altogether, our results show that the process parameters have a significant influence on the 3D printing of natural fiber reinforced composites and a complex structure can be effectively fabricated with the optimized parameter settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the development of a novel biocomposite material formed by a thermoplastic biodegradable polyester, poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), and a carbonaceous filler as biochar (BC) derived by the pyrolysis of woody biomass waste. Composites with various BC contents (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) were obtained by melt extrusion and investigated in terms of their processability, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties. In all the composites, BC lowered melt viscosity, behaving as a lubricant, and enhancing composite extrudability and injection moulding at high temperatures up to 20 wt.% of biochar. While the use of biochar did not significantly change composite thermal stability, it increased its stiffness (Young modulus). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) revealed the presence of a second crystal phase induced by the filler addition. Furthermore, results suggest that biochar may form a particle network that hinders polymer chain disentanglement, reducing polymer flexibility. A biochar content of 10 wt.% was selected as the best trade-off concentration to improve the composite processability and cost competitiveness without compromising excessively the tensile properties. The findings support the use of biochar as a sustainable renewable filler and pigment for PBSA. Biochar is a suitable candidate to replace more traditional carbon black pigments for the production of biodegradable and inexpensive innovative PBSA composites with potential fertilizing properties to be used in agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usage of new cellulosic fibers in industrial applications is massive because of its excellent performances. These fibers are utilized especially for manufacture of high-performance composites. Coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fibers are extracted for leaf sheath of coconut tree. The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fiber CLS as an alternative for polymer composites. In the current study, the consequence of NaOH treatment on structural, thermal and morphological behavior of treated and untreated coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber in terms of single fiber tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (×RD), ther)mogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) has been explored. From SEM analysis, it was identified globular lumps spread consistently over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. The outcomes from the experimentation exposed that the NaOH treatment has impacted in the eradication of amorphous hemicellulose and lignin contents from the CLS fiber surface and in turn resulted in excellent structural and thermal stability behaviour of fiber. The present work endorses the great potential of CLS fibers to be utilized for bio-reinforcement in order to fabricate lightweight composite structures, employed in automobile and structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights the exploitation of fibers from a promising plant, commonly called Diss, in polymer matrix reinforcement. In this context, various untreated and treated (with acetic acid, silane, NaOH, thermal) Diss fibers were used to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix, polypropylene (PP). The effect of fiber treatments was evaluated at a ratio of 10% (by mass) of fiber, using mechanical, microstructural and physical characterization. A fiber content optimization study was carried out after choosing the fiber treatment by varying the fiber content from 10% to 40%. The microstructure observations showed a multi-layer structure for the biocomposites studied. The particular morphology of Diss fibers, with the presence of thorns, seems to improve the mechanical adhesion between the two phases. For 10% fiber content composites, the incorporation of the different fibers in the PP matrix led to improvements in most mechanical properties. The biocomposite reinforced with NaOH treated fibers (NPP-10%) showed the best mechanical performance with an improvement of 30%, 22% and 9% in tensile modulus, bending modulus and bending stress, respectively. For the fiber content variation, the NPP was retained, and an enhancement in the tensile modulus was found when the fiber content was below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene is a polymer that has good elasticity properties, while polypropylene is a polymer with a high tensile strength value. Thus, the combination of these two polymers is expected to increase the value of tensile strength and elasticity. A biocomposite consisting of a mixture of Polyethylene-Polypropylene and thermoplastic sago starch (TPSS) was successfully prepared using the mixing method in an internal mixer. TPSS is made by reacting starch and glycerol with a composition of 65:35 wt.%. Compatibility was made by reacting Polyethylene-Polypropylene: Maleic anhydrate: Benzoyl peroxide with a composition of 88:9:3 wt. %. The match concentration used was 10wt.% based on the TPSS weight. The concentration of the Polyethylene-Polypropylene mixture starts from 0.10,15,20,25,30 and 100wt.%. The characterizations carried out are mechanical properties analysis are tensile strength, elongation at break and elasticity, FTIR analysis, and thermal properties are TGA and DTA. According to the test results, the addition of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene can increase the tensile strength from 1.7292MPa (without a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene) to 4.8334MPa and the elongation at break also increases from 0.23% to 1.72% at a concentration of 30wt.%. Meanwhile, Young's Modulus decreased from 740 to 281MPa at a concentration of 30 wt. %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the effect of okra bast fillers on biodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) composites. Fibers were obtained from okra plant stems via biological degumming and subjected to different chemical treatments such as scouring, alkalizing, maleic anhydride treatment, and vinyl acetate grafting. The fibers were ground and PVA-okra bast filler composites were produced at 20 wt% fiber load via the solution casting method. The obtained composites were tested in terms of mechanical properties and exposed to biodegradation in soil. Effects of okra bast filler addition and chemical treatments on changes in mass, breaking strength, elasticity modulus, and breaking elongation of composites upon soil biodegradation were determined. The composites can be considered for utilization in packaging and agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of biobased composites with tailorable mechanical properties made of natural fibers, polylactic acid, and ferulic acid derivatives (FAD) is studied. FAD was used to develop composites with elastomeric properties like improved elongation at break and highly reversible deformation upon elongation. Composites were prepared using raw and enzymatically treated hemp fibers. The fibers were defibrillated due to the enzymatic treatment increasing their aspect ratio. The composites were characterized by their mechanical properties and their reaction to fire. No significant change in the dispersion of the fibers in the composites was reported. Homogenously dispersed crystallites of FAD were observed by scanning electron microscopy in the PLA matrix and at the interface between the PLA and the fibers, where they are suspected to increase the free volume in correlation with a decrease in mechanical properties following the increase in the aspect ratio of the fibers. FAD also degraded the reaction to fire of the material with an increase in 10% of the peak of Heat Release Rate (pHRR) in comparison to neat PLA. It also increased the charring residue up to 3 wt.%. A synergistic effect between FAD and the lignin increasing the charring residue is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bamboo scrimber is a sustainable engineered material that overcomes natural round bamboo's various weaknesses. This study compared the bamboo scrimber's mechanical (strength, stiffness, and ductility) to timber. The results showed that scrimber's physical and mechanical properties are comparable, even superior, to wood, especially in compression. Scrimber has a higher density than timber. Its drier equilibrium moisture content indicates that scrimber is more hydrophobic than timbers. The maximum crushing strength (σc//), compressive stress perpendicular-to-fiber at the proportional limit (σcp⊥) and that at the 0.04" deformation (σc0.04⊥), shear strength (τ//), longitudinal compressive modulus of elasticity (Ec//), lateral compressive modulus of elasticity (Ec⊥), and modulus of rigidity (G) of scrimber are higher than those of timbers. Both scrimber's and timber's flexural properties (modulus of rupture (σb) and flexural modulus of elasticity (Eb)) are comparable. On the contrary, the tensile strength parallel-to-fiber (σt//) of scrimber is weaker than that of timber. Scrimber is high ductility (μ > 6) when subjected to compression perpendicular-to-fiber, medium ductility (4 < μ ≤ 6) when subjected to compression parallel-to-fiber, and low ductility (brittle) when subjected to bending, shear, or tensile parallel-to-fiber. The higher ductility of scrimber may give an alarm and more time before failure than timbers. Timbers have brittle to lower ductility when receiving each kind of loading scheme. The ratio of shear modulus to strength (G/τ) and compression modulus to strength parallel-to-fiber (EC∥/σC∥) strongly correlates with the ductility ratio. However, the ratio of the flexural modulus of elasticity to the modulus of rupture (Eb/σb) and the ratio of the modulus Young to compression stress perpendicular-to-fiber (Ec⊥/σcp⊥) do not strongly correlate to the ductility value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-Sn(IV) (CSn) biocomposite was synthesized by cellulose and stannic chloride in ethanol medium using microwave irradiation for 2 min with 30 s of intermittent time intervals. The incorporation of Sn(IV) into the cellulose matrix was confirmed through FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM- EDS, and BET. The prepared composite CSn has been used for the adsorptive removal of As(III) from water. Parameters, such as initial concentration, adsorbent dose, initial As(III) concentration, and time required for the adsorption process, were optimized through the batch-adsorption process. The adsorption capacity of the CSn for As(III) adsorption was found to be 16.64 mg/g at pH 7.0. Freundlich isotherm was found to be more suitable for the adsorption process based on regression coefficient values. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be more suitable for understanding the kinetics of the adsorption of As(III). Weber–Morris model with non-zero intercept revealed that the mechanism of adsorption was not limited to the diffusion process only. The adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic and showed a decrease in randomness. Chloride ions decreased the percentage removal of As(III) when the concentration of chloride ions was ten times that of As(III) concentration according to the results obtained through the effect of co-anions study. In this study, 5% (w/v) NaCl solution has been used for the regeneration of the material, and during up to five adsorption–desorption cycles, there was a gradual decrease in percentage removal of As(III) from 95% to 78% only, which proves the greener aspect of the CSn. The breakthrough volume of 1.25 L of 10 mg/L of As(III) in column studies revealed that the CSn could be applicable for larger sample volumes also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates eco-friendly membrane biocomposites derived from biomass, utilizing cellulose microfibrils (CMF) as the main membrane material. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), isolated from rice husk, were added as reinforcing fillers in CMF flat sheet membranes. CNC with concentrations of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% were employed. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that CNC influenced the surface profile and the pore structure of the membranes, reducing the porosity by 23%. The empty areas formed by CMF interaction were effectively filled by CNC. This modified membrane resulted in an increase in NaCl rejection of up to 16%. Dynamic water contact angle demonstrated the role of CNC in enhancing permeability, with a shorter spreading time of 13 min. It was also confirmed by the highest flux of 351 L/m − 2h−1 under pure water flux conditions. Mechanical properties were significantly improved, with a 125% increase in tensile strength and a modulus of 329 MPa. The distribution of CNC within the membranes filled pores and enhanced CMF interaction, facilitated by abundant hydroxyl groups in CNC. Overall, this study highlights the potential of eco-friendly membrane biocomposites derived from biomass, offering valuable insights for the development of sustainable and efficient membrane materials.

3D-printing or Additive Manufacturing (AM) has been growing as a rapid manufacturing process for many different applications, with Poly (Lactic Acid) as one of the most used materials for 3D-printing. PLA shows great promise for many applications to achieve the goals of the SDGs due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility but lacks when it comes to mechanical strength and thermal resistance. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fibers were introduced as a reinforcement to PLA. The biocomposite filaments were irradiated in a vacuum to enhance the crosslinking. Gamma-ray irradiation in a vacuum has successfully shown signs of crosslinking by increasing the tensile strength and thermal stability of the biocomposite, indicating an enhancement for PLA/MCC for various applications. On the other hand, changes in thermal properties also indicated that irradiation may reduce the processability of the composite, so it is necessary to study the conditions under which the mechanical properties and processability are compatible.

This work highlights the exploitation of fibers from a promising plant, commonly called Diss, in polymer matrix reinforcement. In this context, various untreated and treated (with acetic acid, silane, NaOH, thermal) Diss fibers were used to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix, polypropylene (PP). The effect of fiber treatments was evaluated at a ratio of 10% (by mass) of fiber, using mechanical, microstructural and physical characterization. A fiber content optimization study was carried out after choosing the fiber treatment by varying the fiber content from 10% to 40%. The microstructure observations showed a multi-layer structure for the biocomposites studied. The particular morphology of Diss fibers, with the presence of thorns, seems to improve the mechanical adhesion between the two phases. For 10% fiber content composites, the incorporation of the different fibers in the PP matrix led to improvements in most mechanical properties. The biocomposite reinforced with NaOH treated fibers (NPP-10%) showed the best mechanical performance with an improvement of 30%, 22% and 9% in tensile modulus, bending modulus and bending stress, respectively. For the fiber content variation, the NPP was retained, and an enhancement in the tensile modulus was found when the fiber content was below 20%.

The usage of new cellulosic fibers in industrial applications is massive because of its excellent performances. These fibers are utilized especially for manufacture of high-performance composites. Coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fibers are extracted for leaf sheath of coconut tree. The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fiber CLS as an alternative for polymer composites. In the current study, the consequence of NaOH treatment on structural, thermal and morphological behavior of treated and untreated coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber in terms of single fiber tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (×RD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) has been explored. From SEM analysis, it was identified globular lumps spread consistently over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. The outcomes from the experimentation exposed that the NaOH treatment has impacted in the eradication of amorphous hemicellulose and lignin contents from the CLS fiber surface and in turn resulted in excellent structural and thermal stability behaviour of fiber. The present work endorses the great potential of CLS fibers to be utilized for bio-reinforcement in order to fabricate lightweight composite structures, employed in automobile and structural applications.

Disposable containers made of non-biodegradable polymers are considered as one of the most prevalent environmental pollutants. It is very important and desirable to make fully biodegradable disposable containers for food packaging that does not endanger the health of consumers. In this research, fully biodegradable polymer composites were prepared by melt mixing of polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and natural polymers including corn starch and wheat straw, and their physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. For this purpose, by conducting experiments according to the optimal custom mixture design of the response surface methodology, the effect of 3 independent variables including the concentration of the PLA and PBS biopolymers blend (50/50% w/w) (CBB) in the range of 30–70, the concentration of corn starch (CCS) in the range of 30–60 and the concentration of wheat straw (CWS) in the range of 0–8 wt percentage of biocomposite on the dependent variables including the elastic modulus (EM), elongation at break (EB), impact strength (IS) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of the biocomposite sheet were investigated. According to the results of this research, with the increase in the concentration of corn starch and wheat straw in the studied range, the EM and EMC of the biocomposite increased, while its EB and IS decreased. According to the results obtained from optimizing the effects of independent variables on the physicomechanical properties of the biocomposite sheet, the optimal values predicted by the models for CBB, CCS and CWS were 48.2 wt%, 45.4 wt%, and 6.4 wt%, respectively and predicted values for EM, EB, IS and EMC were 80.8 MPa, 11.4%, 2 kJ/m2 and 4.1%, respectively. Also, the biodegradability rate of the biocomposite with the optimal formulation was 71.1% in the fifth month of the test.

Biodegradable polymers have recently become attractive and have been increasingly used as matrix materials to replace fossil plastics due to concerns about the environmental issue. However, their application areas are limited due to their high costs and natural properties. In this study, we fabricated ecofriendly and economical polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) composites loaded with various concentrations of wood flour (WF) to investigate the effects on the PBAT and WF interfaces as well as the physical properties of the WF/PBAT biocomposites. Then, WF was acetylated with acetic anhydride, and the effect of WF acetylation on the mechanical and thermal properties of the biocomposites were investigated. The results showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with WF loading in the composites, and acetylation could not only further increase these properties, but also increase the impact strength and elongation at break. The incorporation of WF would weaken the thermal stability of PBAT, but the thermal stability of the biocomposite could be improved after WF acetylation. The cold crystallization temperature and hydrophobicity of the WF/PBAT samples would be increased with the increasing load of the WF, while the melting enthalpy and the crystallinity of the samples reduced gradually. A morphological analysis of the modified composites revealed that the matrix exhibited greater interfacial interactions with the WF compared to the WF/PBAT. Considering the much lower cost of WF compared to PBAT, the improved properties of WF/PBAT biocomposites will make it economically competitive with other commercial polymers, and these biocomposites should have much wider application areas.

Disposable surgical gowns are usually made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers that do not naturally decompose, impacting the environment. A promising approach to diminish the environmental impact of disposable gowns involves utilizing natural fibers and/or bio-based synthetic fibers. In this study, composite webs from polylactic acid (PLA) bicomponent fiber and natural fibers, cattail and kapok fibers, were prepared using the hot press method. Only the sheath region of the PLA bicomponent fiber melted, acting as an adhesive that enhanced the strength and reduced the thickness of the composite web compared with its state before hot pressing. The mechanical and physical properties of these composite webs were evaluated. Composite webs created from kapok fibers displayed a creamy yellowish-white color, while those made from cattail fibers showed a light yellowish-brown color. Additionally, the addition of natural fibers endowed the composite webs with hydrophobic properties. The maximum natural fiber content, at a ratio of 30:70 (natural fiber to PLA fiber), can be incorporated while maintaining proper water vapor permeability and mechanical properties. This nonwoven material presents an alternative with the potential to replace petroleum-based surgical gowns.

This paper presents a novel cheminformatics approach for the design and synthesis of hydroxyapatite/collagen nanocomposites, which have potential biomedical applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and orthopedic and dental implants. The nanocomposites are synthesized by the co-precipitation method with different ratios of hydroxyapatite and collagen. Their mechanical, biological, and degradation properties are analyzed using various experimental and computational techniques. Attenuated total reflection–Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction unveil the low crystallinity and nanoscale particle size of hydroxyapatite (22.62 nm) and hydroxyapatite/collagen composites (14.81 nm). These findings are substantiated by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, confirming the Ca/P ratio between 1.65 and 1.53 and attesting to the formation of non-stoichiometric apatites in all samples, further validated by molecular simulation. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites is evaluated in vitro against several bacterial and fungal strains, demonstrating their medical potential. Additionally, in silico analyses are performed to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties and the bioavailability of the collagen samples. This study paves the way for the development of novel biomaterials using chemoinformatics tools and methods, facilitating the optimization of design and synthesis parameters, as well as the prediction of biological outcomes. Future research directions should encompass the investigation of in vivo biocompatibility and bioactivity of the nanocomposites, while exploring further applications and functionalities of these innovative materials.

Biomass–fungi biocomposite materials are derived from sustainable sources and can biodegrade at the end of their service. They can be used to manufacture products that are traditionally made from petroleum-based plastics. There are potential applications for these products in the packaging, furniture, and construction industries. In the biomass–fungi biocomposite materials, the biomass particles (made from agricultural waste such as hemp hurd) act as the substrate, and a network of fungal hyphae grow through and bind the biomass particles together. Typically, molding-based methods are used to manufacture products using these biocomposite materials. Recently, the authors reported a novel extrusion-based 3D printing method using these biocomposite materials. This paper reports a follow-up investigation into the effects of mixing parameters (mixing time and mixing mode) on fungal growth in biomass–fungi mixtures prepared for 3D printing and the effects of printing parameters (printing speed and extrusion pressure) on fungal growth in printed samples. The fungal growth was quantified using the number of fungal colonies that grew from samples. The results show that, when mixing time increased from 15 to 120 s, there was a 52% increase in fungal growth. Changing from continuous to intermittent mixing mode resulted in an 11% increase in fungal growth. Compared to mixtures that were not subjected to printing, samples printed with a high printing speed and high extrusion pressure had a 14.6% reduction in fungal growth, while those with a low printing speed and low extrusion pressure resulted in a 16.5% reduction in fungal growth.

This study investigates the mechanical properties of α-chitin and chitosan biocomposites using molecular dynamics (MD) and stress–strain analyses under uniaxial tensile loading in an aqueous environment. Our models, validated against experimental data, show that α-chitin has a higher directional elastic modulus of 51.76 GPa in the x and 39.76 GPa in the y directions compared to its chitosan biocomposite, with 31.66 GPa and 26.00 GPa in the same directions, demonstrating distinct mechanical behaviors between α-chitin and the biocomposite. The greater mechanical stiffness of α-chitin can be attributed to its highly crystalline molecular structure, offering potential advantages for applications requiring load-bearing capabilities. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing these materials for specialized applications.

The presented study is focused on the modification of commercially available epoxy resin with flame retardants by means of using natural substances, including quercetin hydrate and potato starch. The main aim was to obtain environmentally friendly material dedicated to rail transport that is resistant to the aging process during exploitation but also more prone to biodegradation in environmental conditions after usage. Starch is a natural biopolymer that can be applied as a pro-ecological filler, which may contribute to degradation in environmental conditions, while quercetin hydrate is able to prevent a composite from premature degradation during exploitation. To determine the aging resistance of the prepared materials, the measurements of hardness, color, mechanical properties and surface free energy were performed before and after solar aging. To assess the mechanical properties of the composite material, one-directional tensile tests were performed for three directions (0, 90, 45 degrees referred to the plate edges). Moreover, the FT-IR spectra of pristine and aged materials were obtained to observe the changes in chemical structure. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to achieve information about the impact of natural substances on the thermal resistance of the achieved composites.

This paper presents the results of a study investigating the biodegradation of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/wheat bran (WB) biocomposites. Injection mouldings were subjected to biodegradation in compost-filled bioreactors under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. The effects of composting time (14, 42 and 70 days) and WB mass content (10%, 30% and 50% wt.) on the structural and thermal properties of the samples were investigated. Measurements were made by infrared spectral analysis, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and gel permeation chromatography. Results demonstrated that both the thermal and structural properties of the samples depended greatly on the biodegradation time. Specifically, their crystallinity degree increased significantly while molecular mass sharply decreased with biodegradation time, whereas their thermal resistance only showed a slight increase. This resulted from enzymatic hydrolysis that led to the breakdown of ester bonds in polymer chains. It was also found that a higher WB content led to a higher mass loss in the biocomposite samples during biodegradation and affected their post-biodegradation properties. A higher bran content increased the degree of crystallinity of the biocomposite samples but reduced their thermal resistance and molecular mass.

Biocomposites based on polylactic acid (PLA), tall wheatgrass (TWG), and hemp (H) were made by injection molding. The article discusses the impact of the agrofiller content on the composite properties, including thermal (DSC, DMA, and TG) and mechanical characteristics (tensile modulus, tensile strength, and impact strength). Generally, the introduction of a plant filler into the polylactide matrix reduced the thermal resistance of the resulting composites. Plant fillers influenced primarily the cold crystallization process, probably due to their nucleating properties. The addition of fillers to the PLA matrix resulted in an increased storage modulus across all tested temperatures compared to pure PLA. In the case of a composite with 50% of plant fillers, it was almost 118%. The mechanical properties of the tested composites depended significantly on the amount of plant filler used. It was observed that adding 50% of plant filler to PLA led to a twofold increase in tensile modulus and a decrease in tensile strength and impact strength by an average of 23 and 70%, respectively. It was determined that composites incorporating tall wheatgrass (TWG) particles exhibited a slightly elevated tensile modulus while showcasing a marginally reduced strength and impact resistance in comparison to composites containing hemp (H) components.

In this study, we utilized a hybridization approach for two different fibers to overcome the drawbacks of single-fiber-reinforced PLA composites. Coir fiber and bamboo leaf fiber were used as reinforcing natural fibers as their properties complement one another. Additionally, we combined thermal annealing with hybridization techniques to further improve the overall properties of the composites. The results showed that the hybridization of BF: CF with a ratio of 1:2 gave PLA-based hybrid composites optimal mechanical and thermal properties. Furthermore, the improvement in the thermal stability of hybrid composites, attributable to an increase in crystallinity, was a result of thermal annealing. The improvement in HDT in annealed 1BF:2CF hybrid composite was about 13.76% higher than that of the neat PLA. Annealing of the composites led to increased crystallinity, which was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The synergistic effect of hybridization and annealing, leading to the improvement in the thermal properties, opened up the possibilities for the use of PLA-based composites. In this study, we demonstrated that a combined technique can be utilized as a strategy for improving the properties of 100% biocomposites and help overcome some limitations of the use of PLA in many applications.

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Measurement of mechanical properties of biocomposites is a good method for evaluating their effectiveness of adhesion between fiber and polymer matrix. In this research, the effects of four different chemical treatments of flax fiber on some mechanical properties of their biocomposites was investigated. Initially, the flax fiber was soaked in alkaline, silane, benzoyle and peroxide solution and the fiber were dried in an air-cabinet drier at 70°C. After grinding, each group were separately mixed with HDPE powder at a ratio of 10% flax fiber and 90% HDPE. From these mixture, composite plates were prepared through extruding, pelleting, and rotational molding. The resulting composites were tested for their various mechanical properties using tensile tests. The test results indicated the maximum strain was 6.22%, maximum supported load at yield point was 582 N, maximum stress at yield pint was 20.26 MPa and maximum modulus of elasticity was 467.75 MPa all for alkaline treatment. It was found that all tested mechanical properties for HDPE were significantly lower than the composites made from fiber containing biocomposites. However there was no significant difference between the mechanical strength of composites produced from various chemical treatments.

Silkworm cocoon is a natural biological and composite structure that has evolved over time and has high physical and mechanical properties against stress and acts as insulation against ambient temperature conditions. Understanding the relationships between the two-component structure of silkworm cocoons (sericin and fibroin) inspires the creation of composite structures, including lightweight, high-strength nonwoven biocomposites. In the present study, by analytical-descriptive method, we have tried to use cocoon sericin and introduce some famous and widely used natural fibers in materials science and study their characteristics - because for various reasons such as lightness, lack of pollution and low cost, etc. can be suitable alternative for a replacement of synthetic fibers - suggest the production of non-woven bio-composite materials. Natural fibers such as jute, hemp, flax, etc. with different volume percentages in combination with sericin as a binder, were proposed for this biocomposite and the thermal performance of each of them was compared using Maxwell's theoretical model. All compounds show low thermal conductivity and jute-sericin biocomposite with 70% by volume and 0.061 W/m2-K performance has better performance.

Viscose rayon filaments were used as reinforcement in the chitosan matrix (dissolved in acetic acid) to create a truly green composite. Unidirectional composites with different weights of viscose rayon filament were fabricated. The composite material was characterized by tensile strength, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM. The tensile strength of the biocomposite increased (43.81%), and elongation % decreased (11.42%) with an increase in reinforcement loading. FTIR spectra of biocomposites confirmed strong hydrogen bonding between chitosan and hydroxyl groups of viscose rayon. The SEM micrograph indicated that the viscose rayon filament was fully surrounded by the matrix, and hence a strong composite was fabricated.

Abstract Purpose Biodegradable interference screws (IFS) can be manufactured from different biomaterials. Magnesium was previously shown to possess osteoinductive properties, making it a promising material to promote graft‐bone healing in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose of this study was to compare IFS made from magnesium to a contemporary biocomposite IFS. Methods In a porcine model of ACL reconstruction, deep porcine flexor tendons were trimmed to a diameter of 8 mm, sutured in Krackow technique, and fixed with either 8 × 30 mm biocomposite IFS (Bc‐IFS) or 8 × 30 mm magnesium IFS (Mg‐IFS) in an 8 mm diameter bone tunnel in porcine tibiae. Cyclic loading for 1000 cycles from 0 to 250 N was applied, followed by load to failure testing. Elongation, load to failure and stiffness of the tested constructs was determined. Results After 1000 cycles at 250 N, elongation was 4.8 mm ± 1.5 in the Bc‐IFS group, and 4.9 mm ± 1.5 in the Mg‐IFS group. Load to failure was 649.5 N ± 174.3 in the Bc‐IFS group, and 683.8 N ± 116.5 in the Mg‐IFS group. Stiffness was 125.3 N/mm ± 21.9 in the Bc‐IFS group, and 122.5 N/mm ± 20.3 in the Mg‐IFS group. No significant differences regarding elongation, load to failure and stiffness between Bc‐IFS and Mg‐IFS were observed. Conclusion Magnesium IFS show comparable biomechanical primary stability in comparison to biocomposite IFS and may therefore be an alternative to contemporary biodegradable IFS.

ABSTRACTA new class of biobased composites with tailorable mechanical properties made of natural fibers, polylactic acid, and ferulic acid derivatives (FAD) is studied. FAD was used to develop composites with elastomeric properties like improved elongation at break and highly reversible deformation upon elongation. Composites were prepared using raw and enzymatically treated hemp fibers. The fibers were defibrillated due to the enzymatic treatment increasing their aspect ratio. The composites were characterized by their mechanical properties and their reaction to fire. No significant change in the dispersion of the fibers in the composites was reported. Homogenously dispersed crystallites of FAD were observed by scanning electron microscopy in the PLA matrix and at the interface between the PLA and the fibers, where they are suspected to increase the free volume in correlation with a decrease in mechanical properties following the increase in the aspect ratio of the fibers. FAD also degraded the reaction to fire of the material with an increase in 10% of the peak of Heat Release Rate (pHRR) in comparison to neat PLA. It also increased the charring residue up to 3 wt.%. A synergistic effect between FAD and the lignin increasing the charring residue is also reported.

The aim of this study was to obtain biocomposites consisting of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), bacterial cellulose (BC) and α-tocopherol by a melt processing technique for potential use in biomedical applications. The melt processing and roughness of biocomposites were evaluated and compared to sample without BC. The degradation rate of PHBV/BC biocomposites was measured in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) by determining the mass variation and evidencing of thermal and structural changes by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR). The cell viability, cell morphology, cell cycle distribution and total collagen content were investigated on murine NCTC fibroblasts. Overall, the adding of BC to polyester matrix led to an adequate melt processing of biocomposites and increased surface roughness and cytocompatibility, allowing the cells to secrete the extracellular matrix (collagen) and stimulate cell proliferation. Results showed that the PHBV/BC biocomposites were favorable for long-term degradation and could be used for the design of medical devices with controlled degradability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging concepts of sustainable textiles and controlled production strategy demands ideally zero emissions of contaminants into the aquatic environment. However, the currently in-practiced conventional processes in textiles dispose of a number of contaminants especially super toxic synthetic dyes as effluents. In recent years, nanomaterials have become attractive choice for eco-friendly removal of organic dyestuff. Accordingly, this article reports synthesis and characterization of biocomposite wherein copolymer of polyaniline (PANI) and Polypyrrole (PPY) was grafted onto hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). Further, adsorption properties of as-prepared composite were evaluated using textile dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl Orange (MO)- as model adsorbate. The characterization of novel biocomposite (HEC/PANI-PPy) was carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyzer (BET), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The operational parameters such as dye initial concentration, adsorbent amount, pH and contact time were also studied to evaluate the efficiency level of the prepared biocomposite. Interestingly, the composite-mediated adsorption of RhB and MO followed pseudo-second order and the Langmuir isotherm. It is found that the adsorption capacity HEC/PANI-PPy is 30.06 and 29.3 for RhB and MO respectively. Thus, HEC/PANI-PPy is an inexpensive and highly efficient adsorbent that could be employed for could be employed for the separation and removal of toxic organic dyes from polluted textile effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ facile synthesis and the characterization of nanohydroxyapatite/chitosan (nHAP/CS) biocomposites were investigated for examining their potential applications in orthopedic implant technology. Firstly, the bare nHAP, europium-doped hydroxyapatite (Eu-nHAP), yttrium-doped hydroxyapatite (Y-nHAP), and Eu- and Y-codoped hydroxyapatite (Eu,Y-nHAP) nanoparticles were synthesized by the wet precipitation technique using biowaste-eggshell-derived calcium oxide powders. Then, through ultrasonication using the nanohydroxyapatite/chitosan mixtures (molar ratio = 1:2), the nHAP/CS, Eu-nHAP/CS, Y-nHAP/CS, and Eu,Y-nHAP/CS biocomposites were fabricated. Among them, Eu,Y-nHAP/CS showed higher cell viability (94.9%), higher solubility (pH = 7.6 after 21 days), and greater antibacterial activity than those of the other composites. In addition, Eu,Y-nHAP/CS exhibited improved mechanical properties compared with the other composites. For example, the nanoindentation test displayed the Eu,Y-nHAP/CS-coated 316L stainless steel implant to possess a higher Young's modulus value (9.24 GPa) and greater hardness value (300.71 MPa) than those of the others. The results indicate that the biomass-eggshell-derived Eu,Y-doped nHAP is of good use for orthopedic implant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water supply to millions of people worldwide is of alarmingly poor quality. Supply sources are depleting, whereas demand is increasing. Health problems associated with water consumption exceeding 1.5 mg/L of fluoride are a severe concern for the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, it is urgent to research and develop new technologies and innovative materials to achieve partial fluoride reduction in water intended for human consumption. The new alternative technologies must be environmentally friendly and be able to remove fluoride at the lowest possible costs. So, the use of waste from lignocellulosic biomasses provides a promising alternative to commercially inorganic-based adsorbents—published studies present bioadsorbent materials competing with conventional inorganic-based adsorbents satisfactorily. However, it is still necessary to improve the modification methods to enhance the adsorption capacity and selectivity, as well as the reuse cycles of these bioadsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new materials is currently focused on replacing fossil-based plastics with sustainable materials. Obtaining new bioplastics that are biodegradable and of the greenest possible origin could be a great alternative for the future. However, there are some limitations—such as price, physical properties, and mechanical properties—of these bioplastics. In this sense, the present work aims to explore the potential of lignin present in black liquor from paper pulp production as the main component of a new plastic matrix. For this purpose, we have studied the simple recovery of this lignin using acid precipitation, its thermoplastification with glycerin as a plasticizing agent, the production of blends with poly(caprolactone) (PCL), and finally the development of biocomposite materials reinforcing the blend of thermoplastic lignin and PCL with stone groundwood fibers (SGW). The results obtained show that thermoplastic lignin alone cannot be used as a bioplastic. However, its combination with PCL provided a tensile strength of, e.g., 5.24 MPa in the case of a 50 wt.% blend. In addition, when studying the properties of the composite materials, it was found that the tensile strength of a blend with 20 wt.% PCL increased from 1.7 to 11.2 MPa with 40 wt.% SGW. Finally, it was proven that through these biocomposites it is possible to obtain a correct fiber–blend interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of poly(butylene-succinate) (PBS) and cassava pulp (CP) at two particle sizes (250 and 400 µm) on the properties of PBS/CP biocomposites. The PBS/CP biocomposites with different ratios (PBS100/CP0, PBS90/CP10, PBS80/CP20, PBS70/CP30, and PBS60/CP40) were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and formed using a ram extruder. The physical, mechanical, and biodegradable properties of these biocomposites were studied. The results showed that the melt flow index of biocomposites significantly decreased with an increase in the CP content as observed in both CP particle sizes. It was also observed that using 400 µm CP in PBS80/CP20 led to a higher melt flow index as compared to using 250 µm CP. The PBS/CP biocomposites were shown to improve Young's modulus and hardness. Nevertheless, tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength of the PBS/CP biocomposites decreased with an increase in the amount of CP (in both particle sizes). The addition of 250 µm CP provided good particle dispersion and compatibility in the biocomposite matrix. An increase in the CP content of up to 40% showed that the biocomposites had more brittle fracture although they were also the best biodegradable as indicated by natural soil burial test for 42 days. A biocomposite from PBS/CP could be useful in commodity packaging, outdoor plant pots, and injection molding as eco-friendly, strong and biodegradable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]