Morphological and mechanical properties of polylactide/ benzylated rice straw biocomposites

Rice straw as a lignocellulosic resource after drying and milling was reacted with Benzyl chloride and 40% NAOH solution at reflux temperature for 6 hours. Benzylated rice straw (BRS) after purification and drying was belended with polyactic acid at different proportions( percent of BRS in composite were 10,30 and 50 wt%) in chloroform solvent and biocomposite film were obtain by solvent casting .FTIR spectrum of benzylated sample showed reduction of hydroxyl group and increase in benzyl group signal. Morphologial and mechanical properties of samples were evaluated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and tensile testing respectively. The result indicated that reducing BRS wt% in the polymer matrix increased the tensile strength and elastic modulus of composite compared to those of pure PLA.

Keywords:

Polylactic acid , Benzylated rice straw , FTIR , Tensile stength , SEM