Fabrication and characterization of polylactic acid/natural fiber extruded composites

Abstract In this work, the fabricated polylactic acid (PLA) and hybrid natural fiber (NF) biocomposites via a melt extrusion method were investigated. NFs from locally grown plants utilized as fillers. Polyethene glycol (PEG) was used plasticizer to improve processability of PLA. The effect PLA/NF biocomposite processing assessed by mechanical characterization (tensile, modulus, strain at break, impact tests), thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] analysis). dynamic (DMA), thermo‐mechanical (TMA) samples also analyzed. improved compared with that DMA findings show storage modulus loss exhibited slight reduction for PLA sample. opposite, glass transition temperature ( T g ) DSC thermogram results showed no obvious changes in values Furthermore, TMA significant decrease coefficient expansion those samples. overall work indicated have potential make novel suitable further application especially biomedical applications due its good stiffness, tensile strength, dimensional stability.