Bioplastic Reinforced by Microcrystalline Cellulose via Sonication-Assisted Solvent Blending: Mechanical and Morphological Properties
Catur Pramono (a), Dody Ariawan (a*), Wijang Wisnu Raharjo (a), Mujtahid Kaavessina (b)

a) Department of Mechanical Enginering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
*dodyariawan[at]staff.uns.ac.id
b) Department of Chemical Enginering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

The properties of polylactic acid (PLA) are encouraging as a bioplastic that could substitute conventional petroleum-based plastics. The objective of this research is to enhance the mechanical properties of PLA for a broader range of applications by incorporating Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) as a filler. Solvent blending is employed in conjunction with sonication to incorporate MCC into the PLA matrix. The MCC composition varies in 0 and 10wt%, and the sonication time was varied by 0, 5, 10, and 15 min. The results of mechanical testing on composite PLA sheets, which included the tensile test (ASTM D638) and puncture test (ASTM 2582), indicated that the presence of MCC can enhance tensile strength and puncture resistance. The efficacy of the sonication was demonstrated for five minutes. This is due to the effective dispersion of MCC in PLA, which leads to an increase in the tensile strength and puncture resistance of PLA. The morphological image shows that the MCC dispersion after five minutes of sonication is more homogeneous than at other durations.

Keywords: bioplastic, polylactic acid, microcrystalline cellulose

Topic: Material Physics