Taguchi-grey relational analysis in parameter optimisation of green biopolymer composites

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the mechanical properties of blends and their nanocomposite blends (BNCs) of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA) at different loadings (0.5, 1, and 2%) of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and nano titanium dioxide (n–TiO2), and parameter optimisation of the BNCs was conducted using a statistical technique such as Taguchi-grey relational and regressional analysis. The results showed that adding PLA to PHB increased the mechanical properties of the blends, and the mechanical properties increased more with the high loading of PLA. The reinforcement with n–TiO2 improved the mechanical properties of the blends; however, the presence of the CNF in the blends generally decreased the mechanical properties. The grey relational analysis showed that the best BNCs were 75% PHB /25% PLA with 0.5% CNF. However, Taguchi analysis found that 75% PHB / 25% PLA with 2% n–TiO2 has the best mechanical properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Biopolymer nanocomposites
• cellulose nanofillers
• Taguchi method
• grey relational analysis
• modelling and optimisation

Acknowledgements

The authors would also like to acknowledge the contributions of the technical staff at Bartin University who provide the training for test devices.

Disclosure statement

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

Authorship contribution statement

Yıldız Cabuk: Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing. Havva Gumus: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Data curation. Deniz Aydemir: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Rıfat Kurt: Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing. Erol Imren: Data curation, Formal analysis. Ertugrul Altuntas: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Data curation. Zeynep Eda Ozan: Data curation, Writing – review & editing.