Thin-structured and compostable wood fiber-polymer biocomposites: Fabrication and performance evaluation

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was employed as wood fiber (WF) binder to fabricate thin-structured biocomposites via solvent-blending process and compression molding, with 50 to 80 wt.% WF contents. Also, adhesion improvement between the WF via enhanced wood fibers wetting with maleated PLA was employed. Overall, the mechanical properties of WF-PLA-MA biocomposites were improved in comparison to those of the WF-PLA. At higher WF loading, the strength was maintained for WF-PLA-MA while it reduced for WF-PLA. At 50 wt.% WF loadings, the storage modulus increased by 29% and the tan delta peak shifted to a higher temperature for the WF-PLA-MA as compared to those of the WF-PLA. Improved water-resistant of WF-PLA-MA, substantiated by a 7-17% reduction in thickness swelling of the sheets was observed as compared to WF-PLA. Overall, the thin structured and highly filled wood-plastic composite presented appealing material properties for a range of applications including compostable crates, thermo-formable sheets for single use food utensil production etc.