Characterization and Scalable Production of Industrial Hemp Fiber Filled PLA bio-composites

ABSTRACT

The use of natural fiber to develop bio-composites has a low impact on the environment because of its renewable resources and biodegradability. This work investigated the feasibility of producing bio-composites of natural hemp fiber (hemp)-filled biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA). A high blend ratio of hemp (up to 30 wt%) was successfully achieved in a scaling up process. This production process was further verified by blending hemp with different PLA types and the mechanical properties of the obtained bio-composites showed repeatable results. In addition, the PLA/hemp composites showed comparable tensile strength as neat PLA (~50 MPa, depending on the PLA types) and a faster degradation ratio than neat PLA. This work provides a scalable, convenient and cost-effective approach to produce high-quality PLA/hemp bio-composites, which paves the way for scaling-up commercial production of PLA/hemp bio-composites toward practical applications.

摘要

利用天然纤维开发生物复合材料, 由于其可再生资源和可生物降解性, 对环境的影响较小. 研究了天然大麻纤维 (大麻) 填充生物聚合物聚乳酸 (PLA) 制备生物复合材料的可行性. 大麻的高混合比 (高达30 wt%) 在放大过程中成功实现. 通过将大麻与不同类型的PLA共混, 进一步验证了该生产工艺, 所得生物复合材料的力学性能显示出可重复的结果. 此外, PLA/大麻复合材料显示出与纯PLA相当的拉伸强度 (约50 MPa, 取决于PLA类型), 并且降解率比纯PLA更快. 这项工作为生产高质量聚乳酸/大麻生物复合材料提供了一种可扩展、方便且具有成本效益的方法, 为聚乳酸/大麻生物复合材料的商业化生产走向实际应用铺平了道路.

KEYWORDS:

• Polylactic acid
• hemp fiber
• biodegradable
• mechanical characteristic
• biocomposites
• scale up production

关键词:

• 聚乳酸
• 大麻纤维
• 能进行生物降解的
• 机械特性
• 生物复合材料
• 扩大生产规模

Highlight

• Hemp fiber-filled PLA pellets were achieved in a scaling up process through conventional twin-screw extruder.

• This production process was verified with different PLA types.

• The obtained composites showed comparable tensile strength as neat PLA depending on PLA types.

• Hemp fiber-filled PLA showed a faster degradation rate than neat PLA.

Abbreviations

PLA	=	Polylactic acid
DI water	=	Deionized water
Hemp-1	=	Hemp fiber pulverized with 1 mm sieve
Hemp-2	=	Hemp fiber pulverized with 2 mm sieve
Hemp-6	=	Hemp fiber pulverized with 6 mm sieve
3PLA	=	PLA Grade 3251 with a higher melt flow capability than other grades.
PLA/hemp-20	=	PLA/hemp composite with 20 wt% of hemp
PLA/hemp-30	=	PLA/hemp composite with 30 wt% of hemp
PLA/hemp-40	=	PLA/hemp composite with 40 wt% of hemp

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from Fusion Biobased Materials P/L (Australia).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fusion Biobased Materials P/L (Australia).