DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF SUSTAINABLE PLA-BASED BIOCOMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH SUGARCANE BAGASSE AND PAPER FIBRE
Non-biodegradable plastic food plates and packaging often dumped in open areas or waterways after used remains one of the pressing environmental challenges. Although biodegradable plastics like Polylactic Acid have been introduced as alternative, they are still expensive and sometimes lack the desired mechanical strength. This study developed fully biodegradable PLA-based biocomposites reinforced with sugarcane bagasse (SB) and paper fibres aimed to enhanced strength, reduce cost and environmental impact. Composites containing up to 30% filler were produced using two-roll milling process and compression molding. To characterize the composite, Moistures and oil absorption, SEM, Tensile, Hardness, FTIR, and TGA analyses were used. FTIR analysis confirmed successful incorporation of lignocellulosic fillers and indicated hydrogen bonding between PLA carbonyl and filler hydroxyl groups, suggesting good interfacial interaction. Mechanical tests showed that hardness increased with filler content, reaching 42 HV at 30%, while tensile strength peaked at 26 MPa for 25% filler, then declined due to fiber clustering seen in SEM. The composites became more hydrophilic with increasing fiber content. Overall, the 25% filler composite achieved the best balance of strength and hardness, demonstrating a sustainable and cost-effective method for up cycling agricultural and paper waste into high-performance PLA biocomposites.
Authors : Abdulmalik, S.S., Muhammad, J.Y. and Bala, A.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 11(1) Date Uploaded : 1st January 2026