Kumar, RYakubu, MKAnandjiwala, RD2010-07-152010-07-152010-07Kumar, R, Yakubu, MK and Anandjiwala, RD. 2010. Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid. eXPRESS Polymer Letters, Vol. 4(7), pp 423–4301788-618xhttp://www.expresspolymlett.com/articles/EPL-0001475_article.pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/4093Copyright: 2009 Budapest University of Technology & EconomicsWoven and nonwoven flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid (PLA) biocomposites were prepared with amphiphilic additives as accelerator for biodegradation. The prepared composites were buried in farmland soil for biodegradability studies. Loss in weight of the biodegraded composite samples was determined at different time intervals. The surface morphology of the biodegraded composites was studied with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results indicated that in presence of mandelic acid, the composites showed accelerated biodegradation with 20–25% loss in weight after 50–60 days. On the other hand, in presence of dicumyl peroxide (as additive), biodegradation of the composites was relatively slow as confirmed by only 5–10% loss in weight even after 80–90 days. This was further confirmed by surface morphology of the biodegraded composites. We have attempted to show that depending on the end uses, we can add different amphiphilic additives for delayed or accelerated biodegradability. This work gives us the idea of biodegradation of materials from natural fiber reinforced PLA composites when discarded carelessly in the environment instead of proper waste disposal site.enBiodegradable polymersAmphiphilic additivesScanning electron microscopeNonwoven flax fiberFlax fiberWoven flax fiberPoly lactic acidPLABiodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acidArticleKumar, R., Yakubu, M., & Anandjiwala, R. (2010). Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4093Kumar, R, MK Yakubu, and RD Anandjiwala "Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid." (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4093Kumar R, Yakubu M, Anandjiwala R. Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4093.TY - Article AU - Kumar, R AU - Yakubu, MK AU - Anandjiwala, RD AB - Woven and nonwoven flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid (PLA) biocomposites were prepared with amphiphilic additives as accelerator for biodegradation. The prepared composites were buried in farmland soil for biodegradability studies. Loss in weight of the biodegraded composite samples was determined at different time intervals. The surface morphology of the biodegraded composites was studied with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results indicated that in presence of mandelic acid, the composites showed accelerated biodegradation with 20–25% loss in weight after 50–60 days. On the other hand, in presence of dicumyl peroxide (as additive), biodegradation of the composites was relatively slow as confirmed by only 5–10% loss in weight even after 80–90 days. This was further confirmed by surface morphology of the biodegraded composites. We have attempted to show that depending on the end uses, we can add different amphiphilic additives for delayed or accelerated biodegradability. This work gives us the idea of biodegradation of materials from natural fiber reinforced PLA composites when discarded carelessly in the environment instead of proper waste disposal site. DA - 2010-07 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Biodegradable polymers KW - Amphiphilic additives KW - Scanning electron microscope KW - Nonwoven flax fiber KW - Flax fiber KW - Woven flax fiber KW - Poly lactic acid KW - PLA LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2010 SM - 1788-618x T1 - Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid TI - Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4093 ER -