Development and characterization of eco-friendly extruded green composites using PLA/wood dust fillers

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a rising demand for bio-composite materials driven by the increasing need for sustainable alternatives and a desire to lessen dependence on conventional materials. These bio-composites resent eco-friendly solutions to address these challenges. In line with this, the present study focuses on the bio composite material which developed from polylactic acid (PLA) and wood dust (NF). Wood dust sourced from teak wood plants was employed as fillers. PLA served as the matrix material, supplemented with the plasticizer polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance PLA processing. The PLA/NF filament was produced through the extrusion process, and specimens were prepared using 3D printing techniques in accordance with ASTM standards. Various properties including mechanical, physical, thermal stability, and tribological properties were examined. Morphological structures were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results demonstrated improvements in enhanced mechanical robustness and tribological performance of the PLA composite. The tensile strength of the PLA/wood composite was enhanced by 11%. The hardness value of the PLA/wood composite increased by 27% with the addition of wood as filler material. However, the introduction of wood as filler material led to degradation in physical properties. The water absorption test revealed a thickness change of approximately 14% for the PLA wood composite, whereas for pure PLA, it was 9%. Thermal stability tests showed that the temperature resistance of PLA improved to 250 °C with the introduction of wood fillers. Biodegradability tests indicated that PLA wood composite has the potential to address environmental concerns associated with conventional materials.