The Effect of Alkali Treatment on Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PALF) on the Performance of PALF Reinforced Rice Starch Biocomposites

ABSTRACT

In recent years, petroleum-based plastic production has increased exponentially, but its negative impact on the environment, wildlife, and human life is not getting much attention. It is high time now to search for possible alternative materials to replace these plastics. The present study investigates the change in surface morphology, mechanical, and thermal properties of rice starch bioplastic films reinforced with untreated and treated pineapple leaf fibers (PALF). Three types of films were synthesized: Type A (Pure rice starch film), Type B (Rice starch film reinforced with untreated PALF), Type C (Rice starch film reinforced with alkaline-treated PALF) using starch and PALF in the 10:1 weight ratio. It was observed that after alkaline treatment of PALF, interfacial bonding between PALF and rice starch matrix was improved, which further helped to increase the tensile strength of the films. Dynamic mechanical analysis of films showed an increase in storage and loss modulus values after incorporating PALF into the rice starch matrix. The thermal stability of films was also improved after incorporating treated PALF into it because of the removal of low molecular weight components from the surface of PALF. Synthesized bioplastic-composite films were also biodegradable.

摘要

近年来, 以石油为基础的塑料生产呈指数级增长, 但其对环境、野生动物和人类生活的负面影响并未受到太多关注. 现在是时候寻找替代材料来取代这些塑料了. 本文研究了未经处理和处理的菠萝叶纤维(PALF)增强大米淀粉生物塑料薄膜的表面形态、力学和热性能的变化. 合成了三种类型的薄膜. A型(纯大米淀粉膜)、B型(未经处理的PALF加固的大米淀粉膜)、C型(经碱处理的PALF加固的大米淀粉膜), 使用10:1重量比的淀粉和PALF. 结果表明, PALF经碱处理后, PALF与大米淀粉基体的界面结合得到改善, 进一步提高了薄膜的拉伸强度. 动态力学分析表明, 在大米淀粉基质中加入PALF后, 薄膜的储能模量和损耗模量值增加. 将经过处理的PALF加入到薄膜中后, 由于从PALF表面去除了低分子量组分, 薄膜的热稳定性也得到了改善. 合成的生物塑料复合膜也可生物降解.

KEYWORDS:

• PALF
• alkaline treatment
• rice starch
• natural fibers
• bioplastic
• composite

关键词:

• 碱处理
• 大米淀粉
• 天然纤维
• 生物塑料
• 混合成的

Disclosure statement

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

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.