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Biodegradable Polyesters Reinforced with Surface-Modified Vegetable Fibers

  1. Elisa Zini1,
  2. Massimo Baiardo1,
  3. Lidia Armelao2,
  4. Mariastella Scandola1,*

Article first published online: 23 MAR 2004

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200300120

Issue

Macromolecular Bioscience

Macromolecular Bioscience

Special Issue: Highlights from the First IUPAC International Conference on Bio-based Polymers (ICBP 2003) in Saitama, Japan

Volume 4, Issue 3, pages 286–295, March 15, 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zini, E., Baiardo, M., Armelao, L. and Scandola, M. (2004), Biodegradable Polyesters Reinforced with Surface-Modified Vegetable Fibers. Macromol. Biosci., 4: 286–295. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200300120

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy and ISOF-C.N.R., Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy

  2. 2

    CNR-CSSRCC, Department of Inorganic, Metallorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy

*University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy and ISOF-C.N.R., Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy. Fax: +39 051 2099456

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 MAR 2004
  2. Article first published online: 23 MAR 2004
  3. Manuscript Revised: 23 DEC 2003
  4. Manuscript Received: 5 DEC 2003
  5. Manuscript Accepted: 9 JAN 2003

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Keywords:

  • biofibers;
  • composites;
  • mechanical properties;
  • surface analysis

Abstract

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Summary: Flax fibers are investigated as reinforcing agents for biodegradable polyesters (Bionolle and poly(lactic acid) plasticized with 15 wt.-% of acetyltributyl citrate, p-PLLA). The composites are obtained either by high temperature compression molding fiber mats sandwiched between polymer films, or by batch mixing fibers with the molten polymer. Fibers in composites obtained by the latter method are much shorter (140–200 μm) than those of the mats (5 000 μm). Flax fibers are found to reinforce both p-PLLA and Bionolle (i.e. tensile modulus and strength increase) when composites based on fiber mats are investigated. Conversely, analogous composites obtained by batch mixing show poor mechanical properties. The observed behavior is attributed to the combined effect of fiber length and fiber-matrix adhesion. If flax fibers with a modified surface chemistry are used, the strength of short fiber composites is seen to improve significantly because the interface strengthens and load is more efficiently transferred. Appropriate surface modifications are performed by heterogeneous acylation reactions or by grafting poly(ethylene glycol) chains (PEG, molecular weight 350 and 750). The highest tensile strength of p-PLLA composites is reached when PEG-grafted flax fibers are used, whereas in the case of Bionolle the best performance is observed with acylated fibers.

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