Characterization of Mechanical Properties of Coconut Coir Fibre Reinforced PLA Composites

This study examines the biodegradable and fracture toughness of Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites supplemented with coir fibres at different fibre weight fractions. Sustainable composite materials are made by combining fibres from coconut coir with PLA, a biodegradable polymer sourced from renewable resources. To improve their characteristics, the fibres are treated with sodium hydroxide, and twin-screw extrusion and injection moulding are used to create the composites. According to ASTM standards, tensile, impact, and flexural strength tests show that untreated coir fibre reinforced PLA composites have higher tensile and impact strengths than pure PLA, whereas treated fibres offer marginal increases at particular weight fractions.As fibre content rises, flexural strength often falls; untreated composites outperform treated ones in this regard. These results demonstrate the potential of PLA composites reinforced with coir fibre as greener substitutes for traditional polymers, with prospective uses in structural contexts where mechanical integrity and biodegradability are essential.