Argeli Bast Fiber as Wonder Reinforcing Agent for Biodegradable Polymer Composites

Authors

  • Prakash Gautam Institute of Circular Economy of Bio:polymers (ibp) at Hof University of Applied Sciences, Alfons-Goppel- Platz 1, 95028 Hof, Germany; Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal; School of Engineering, Pokhara University, 33700 Pokhara, Nepal; Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), P. O. Box 24411, Kathmandu, Nepal; Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0275-7907
  • Lucas Groβmann Institute of Circular Economy of Bio:polymers (ibp) at Hof University of Applied Sciences, Alfons-Goppel- Platz 1, 95028 Hof, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2666-8706
  • Om Prakash Basyal Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), P. O. Box 24411, Kathmandu, Nepal; Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9073-8956
  • Sharmila Pradhan Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), P. O. Box 24411, Kathmandu, Nepal; Department of Chemistry, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Lainchour, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5943-5741
  • Netra Lal Bhandari Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), P. O. Box 24411, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4534-374X
  • Sven Henning Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS), Halle/Saale, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5936-4410
  • Michael Nase Institute of Circular Economy of Bio:polymers (ibp) at Hof University of Applied Sciences, Alfons-Goppel- Platz 1, 95028 Hof, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8017-4849
  • Rameshwar Adhikari Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), P. O. Box 24411, Kathmandu, Nepal; Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur 44618 Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7350-0204

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v12i2.68409

Keywords:

Argeli fiber, morphology, PLA/PBAT blend, polymer composites, shore hardness

Abstract

This paper has aimed to concisely discuss the insight into the potential of the Argeli bast fibers as reinforcing agents in eco-friendly polymer composites. The Argeli fibers used in this work as biofiller were prepared by mechanical disintegration of the sun-dried Argeli bast fiber bundles followed by chemical treatments and hence incorporated into the matrix of the PLA/PBAT blend via melt compounding. The materials were characterized by advanced analytical tools such as tensile and Shore D hardness testing, and optical and electron microscopy. The Argeli fibers, originally comprising the compact bundles of microfibrils glued together, were found to exfoliate into constituent microfibers and distribute uniformly in the PLA/PBAT blends matrix upon melt processing. The addition of Argeli fiber into the PLA/PBAT mixture led to a reinforcement of the polymeric matrix with an increase in the tensile modulus as well as Shore D hardness, the properties being further enhanced with chemical treatments of the fibers. The latter enhancement in properties was attributed to the chemical treatment-induced formation of a highly crystalline pure cellulosic framework due to the dissolution of the amorphous parts as well as other impurities from the neat fibers. The Argeli fibers exhibited a potential reinforcing agent for the biodegradable polymer composite.

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Published

2024-08-15

How to Cite

Gautam, P., Groβmann L., Basyal, O. P., Pradhan, S., Bhandari, N. L., Henning, S., … Adhikari, R. (2024). Argeli Bast Fiber as Wonder Reinforcing Agent for Biodegradable Polymer Composites. Nepal Journal of Environmental Science, 12(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v12i2.68409

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Research Articles

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