Polylactic Acid (PLA)/Cellulose Hybrid Biocomposite: The Utilization of Nypa Frutican on Enhancing Mechanical Properties of PLA

There has been a tremendous increase in the amount of emphasis spent on biocomposite technology in recent years. This is primarily due to increased worries about health and the environment. The development of polymer biocomposites is critical in the field of composite material research, particularly in terms of improving mechanical properties and biodegradability. Even though not all polymers are suitable for use as matrix materials, there is growing interest in the usage of renewable polymer matrix architectures such as polylactic acid (PLA) because they degrade more quickly than traditional polymers. In order to produce the biocomposite, the solvent casting method was employed as the appropriate method for production. The material that was used as the filler material was cellulose, and the component of the matrix that was employed was PLA. Chloroform was utilised as the solvent. PLA was employed in the matrix's creation. The sample were cut into rectangles 50 mm long by 15 mm wide. The biocomposite was initially submerged in a buffer solution that contains -amylase in order to kickstart the process of enzymatic biodegradation. In order to finish the procedure without any problems, it was essential to carry out this step. The weight reduction was monitored at two-day intervals. The results showed that as cellulose concentration grew, so did tensile strength, and that weight lost during biodegradation also increased strength was then measured using the ASTM D882 standard. By immersing the sample in α-amylase buffer solution, enzymatic biodegradation was carried out, and the weight loss every two days was determined. According to the outcome, tensile strength rose along with the cellulose content, and the weight lost during biodegradation also increased.