Startseite Naturwissenschaften Chapter 2. Polylactic acid-agave fiber biocomposites: processing, properties, weathering performance, and biodegradation
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Chapter 2. Polylactic acid-agave fiber biocomposites: processing, properties, weathering performance, and biodegradation

  • A. A. Pérez-Fonseca , D. Rodrigue , A. S. Martín del Campo und J. R. Robledo-Ortíz
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Polylactic Acid Composites
Ein Kapitel aus dem Buch Polylactic Acid Composites

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers due to its excellent mechanical properties, renewability, and biodegradability. However, PLA has some drawbacks, such as brittleness and higher cost compared to conventional polymers. Over the years, researchers have successfully combined PLA with natural fibers to produce biocomposites to overcome these limitations while maintaining biodegradability. Agave fibers (AFs), an important waste of the Tequila industry, have been incorporated into polymer matrices by the composites industry using various processing methods, such as extrusion, injection molding, rotomolding, thermocompression, and 3D printing. These studies showed that AF can be effectively used to produce PLA-based biocomposites. However, coupling agents or AF treatments are required to produce biocomposites with competitive mechanical properties. Coupling agents, such as maleic anhydride (MA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted to PLA, have been shown to improve the fiber-matrix adhesion and increase the mechanical properties of these biocomposites.

But PLA is sensitive to weathering conditions, which is a significant problem, especially for outdoor applications. To address this issue, researchers investigated the effect of AF on the weathering of PLA-based biocomposites. The results indicate that AF can mitigate the hydrolytic degradation of PLA under different weathering and water absorption conditions. Finally, the biodegradation behavior of these biocomposites has been investigated and the results showed that the initial biodegradation rate can be slower when fibers are present, but the average rate is similar to that of neat PLA at longer time. Overall, the incorporation of AF in PLA-based biocomposites holds great potential to reduce the environmental impact of polymer production and waste disposal, while maintaining suitable mechanical properties

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers due to its excellent mechanical properties, renewability, and biodegradability. However, PLA has some drawbacks, such as brittleness and higher cost compared to conventional polymers. Over the years, researchers have successfully combined PLA with natural fibers to produce biocomposites to overcome these limitations while maintaining biodegradability. Agave fibers (AFs), an important waste of the Tequila industry, have been incorporated into polymer matrices by the composites industry using various processing methods, such as extrusion, injection molding, rotomolding, thermocompression, and 3D printing. These studies showed that AF can be effectively used to produce PLA-based biocomposites. However, coupling agents or AF treatments are required to produce biocomposites with competitive mechanical properties. Coupling agents, such as maleic anhydride (MA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted to PLA, have been shown to improve the fiber-matrix adhesion and increase the mechanical properties of these biocomposites.

But PLA is sensitive to weathering conditions, which is a significant problem, especially for outdoor applications. To address this issue, researchers investigated the effect of AF on the weathering of PLA-based biocomposites. The results indicate that AF can mitigate the hydrolytic degradation of PLA under different weathering and water absorption conditions. Finally, the biodegradation behavior of these biocomposites has been investigated and the results showed that the initial biodegradation rate can be slower when fibers are present, but the average rate is similar to that of neat PLA at longer time. Overall, the incorporation of AF in PLA-based biocomposites holds great potential to reduce the environmental impact of polymer production and waste disposal, while maintaining suitable mechanical properties

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributing authors VII
  4. Chapter 1. Processing on polylactic acid and its applications 1
  5. Chapter 2. Polylactic acid-agave fiber biocomposites: processing, properties, weathering performance, and biodegradation 13
  6. Chapter 3. Polylactic acid composite materials for packaging and the consumption of food products 31
  7. Chapter 4. Antibacterial properties of polylactic acid composites for food packaging 73
  8. Chapter 5. Barrier properties of polylactic acid 101
  9. Chapter 6. Heat-sealing properties of polylactic acid and polylactic acid composites 123
  10. Chapter 7. Reactive extrusion of polylactic acid 141
  11. Chapter 8. Surface properties of polylactic acid–based composites 163
  12. Chapter 9. Study on mechanical properties of Himalayacalamus falconeri fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 181
  13. Chapter 10. The fabrication process of the pine needle fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 217
  14. Chapter 11. Development of novel hybrid green polymer composites (HGPC) with a combination of biowaste material as fillers 227
  15. Chapter 12. Joining behavior of bio-filler-based polyester composites 257
  16. Chapter 13. Dimensional analysis of 3D-printed knuckle joint and bearing pillow block 271
  17. Chapter 14. Processing and applications of silk fiber-reinforced biocomposite for tissue engineering 289
  18. Chapter 15. The development of silk fiber-, jute fiber-, Grewia optiva fiber-reinforced biopolymer composites 303
  19. Chapter 16. Machinability characteristics of pine needle fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 321
  20. Index 331
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111067285-002

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributing authors VII
  4. Chapter 1. Processing on polylactic acid and its applications 1
  5. Chapter 2. Polylactic acid-agave fiber biocomposites: processing, properties, weathering performance, and biodegradation 13
  6. Chapter 3. Polylactic acid composite materials for packaging and the consumption of food products 31
  7. Chapter 4. Antibacterial properties of polylactic acid composites for food packaging 73
  8. Chapter 5. Barrier properties of polylactic acid 101
  9. Chapter 6. Heat-sealing properties of polylactic acid and polylactic acid composites 123
  10. Chapter 7. Reactive extrusion of polylactic acid 141
  11. Chapter 8. Surface properties of polylactic acid–based composites 163
  12. Chapter 9. Study on mechanical properties of Himalayacalamus falconeri fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 181
  13. Chapter 10. The fabrication process of the pine needle fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 217
  14. Chapter 11. Development of novel hybrid green polymer composites (HGPC) with a combination of biowaste material as fillers 227
  15. Chapter 12. Joining behavior of bio-filler-based polyester composites 257
  16. Chapter 13. Dimensional analysis of 3D-printed knuckle joint and bearing pillow block 271
  17. Chapter 14. Processing and applications of silk fiber-reinforced biocomposite for tissue engineering 289
  18. Chapter 15. The development of silk fiber-, jute fiber-, Grewia optiva fiber-reinforced biopolymer composites 303
  19. Chapter 16. Machinability characteristics of pine needle fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites 321
  20. Index 331
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Heruntergeladen am 19.10.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111067285-002/html
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