Preparation and Characterization of Ramie Fiber Reinforcement on Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Cassava Starch Hybrid Bio-Composites

The rising demand for materials that can be sustained over time and the growing worries about the decline of the environment have resulted in a noteworthy rise in the attention towards environmentally friendly composites in recent times. This study aims to develop a bio-composite by reinforcing ramie fiber (RF) within the ABS/CS blend matrix, to enhance the mechanical characteristics and biodegradability. The surface roughness of the fibers increased by chemical treatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The ABS/CS/RF composites underwent compounding through a two-roll mill, and sheets containing different weight percentages (5, 10, 15, 20) of RF were produced using a hot compression molding machine. The prepared composites were tested to evaluate their biodegradability, water absorption, mechanical properties, and viscoelastic characteristics. The biodegradation test results demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between the concentration of fibers in neat ABS and the degree of biodegradation. The tensile strength and modulus of the ABS/CS blend increased by 60% and 14.28% respectively. The impact strength improved by 117% when 20 wt% of the RF was added. The degradation of the ABS/CS/RF composite increased by 1.375% after 45 days. However, the DMA results showed an adverse effect on the storage modulus.