Expanded biocomposite based on Polylactic Acid and Kenaf fiber

摘要

The aim for this study was to investigate the loading effect of the Azodicarbonamide (ADC) as a chemical foaming agent on the physical, morphological and tensile properties of poly(lactic acid) PLA/ kenaf fiber (KF) composites. The solid and foamed composites were prepared via extrusion and compression molding. The PLA and KF were fixed in the weight ratio of 80:20 and compositions of ADC were varied from 1 phr to 5 phr. The morphology was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the results proved the microscopic structure of foamed PLA/KF composites by adding the ADC. The density of the composites exhibited the decreasing trend with the addition of ADC loading. Tensile strength and Young modulus results of the samples decreasing with the ADC loading.