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Abstract: In this work, a starch-based biopolymer was reinforced with flax strands. Composite materials at different fiber content were obtained by means of high-shearing mixing followed by injection molding processing. The evaluation of the mechanical properties gave a significant increase of the strength and stiffness of composites with the percentage of flax strands. The enhancement was analyzed in terms of compatibility and extension of the adhesion at fiber–matrix interface. The intrinsic mechanical properties of the reinforcement were measured and the behavior of the obtained composites was studied in terms of the modified rule of mixtures and the modified Halpin–Tsai equations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Over recent years, enthusiasm towards the manufacturing of biopolymers has attracted considerable attention due to the rising concern about depleting resources and worsening pollution. Among the biopolymers available in the world, polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the highest biopolymers produced globally and thus, making it suitable for product commercialisation. Therefore, the effectiveness of natural fibre reinforced PLA composite as an alternative material to substitute the non-renewable petroleum-based materials has been examined by researchers. The type of fibre used in fibre/matrix adhesion is very important because it influences the biocomposites' mechanical properties. Besides that, an outline of the present circumstance of natural fibre-reinforced PLA 3D printing, as well as its functions in 4D printing for applications of stimuli-responsive polymers were also discussed. This research paper aims to present the development and conducted studies on PLA-based natural fibre bio-composites over the last decade. This work reviews recent PLA-derived bio-composite research related to PLA synthesis and biodegradation, its properties, processes, challenges and prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]