Hubby Mukaffa, Mochamad Asrofi, Sujito, Asnawi, Yuni Hermawan, Sumarji, Rika Dwi Hidayatul Qoryah, S.M. Sapuan, R.A. Ilyas, A. Atiqah
In this work, biocomposites based polylactic acid (PLA) filled with piper betle fiber (PBF) were successfully synthesized by solvent cast-film method using chloroform as the solvent. The PBF was treated with 7% NaOH. The biocomposites were loaded separately with untreated and treated PBF at 1 to 3 wt% and investigated for tensile properties and morphological of fractured surfaces. Tensile strength and modulus elasticity of biocomposites were increased with addition of betel particles and found to be higher than the matrix. Furthermore, the alkali treatment of PBF had considerably improved tensile and modulus of biocomposites compared to those of biocomposites with untreated PBF. A contrary trend was found in the case of elongation at break. However, biocomposites with treated PBF had greater elongation compared to those of biocomposites with untreated PBF. These results were identified by fracture examination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM observations showed the good bonds formed between treated PBF and PLA. This indicated by less cavity and roughness on biocomposite fractured surface with treated PBF. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Jember, Kampus Tegalboto, Jember,East Java, 68121, Indonesia; Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, Kampus Tegalboto, Jember,East Java, 68121, Indonesia; Department of Physics, Surabaya State University, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia; Center for Advanced Composite Materials, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, 81310, Malaysia; Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, 43600, Malaysia
