Bioplastic reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose through sonication-assisted solvent blending: mechanical and morphological properties

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Abstract
The properties of polylactic acid (PLA) are encouraging as a bioplastic that could substitute conventional petroleum-based plastics. The objective of this research is to enhance the mechanical properties of PLA for a broader range of applications by incorporating Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) as a filler. Solvent blending is employed in conjunction with sonication to incorporate MCC into the PLA matrix. The MCC composition varies in 0 and 10wt%, and the sonication time was varied by 0, 5, 10, and 15 min. The results of mechanical testing on composite PLA sheets, which included the tensile test (ASTM D638) and puncture test (ASTM 2582), indicated that the presence of MCC can enhance tensile strength and puncture resistance. The efficacy of the sonication was demonstrated for five minutes. This is due to the effective dispersion of MCC in PLA, which leads to an increase in the tensile strength and puncture resistance of PLA. The morphological image shows that the MCC dispersion after 5 minutes of sonication is more homogeneous than at other durations. Experimental results indicate that the homogeneous dispersion of fillers in bioplastics contributes to the enhancement of tensile strength and puncture resistance.

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