Environmentally Compatible Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Banana Peel Nano Crystals/Bentonite Clay-based Composites Films: Influence of Nano Filler on Biodegradation Behavior

Abstract

The present work shows the effect of Bentonite Clay (BC) on the biodegradation behavior of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Banana Peel Nano Crystals (BPNC) composite films. Nowadays, composite films manufactured from biodegradable or partially biodegradable polymers reinforced natural fillers start to gain attention because they are considered as one of the environmentally friendly biomaterials Biodegradation studies were conducted using soil burial and bacterial degradation method. The prepared composite films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Biodegradation studies reported that the composite films were more degradable in bacterial environment as compared to natural soil burial. The addition of Bentonite Clay (BC) had negative effect on degradation rate of composite films. Biodegradation studies were conducted using soil burial and bacterial degradation method. The prepared composite films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. PVA/BPNC/BC composite film showed less weight loss (%) as compared to PVA/BPNC composite films because BC had stabilizing effect against the microbial attack which prevents biodegradation.