Degradation Behavior of Rice Husk Fiber-Reinforced PLA/PBAT Composites in Short-Term Hydrothermal Environment

Abstract

The rice husk fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA)/polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) composites were prepared by using an injection molding technique. An in-depth investigation into degradation behavior within a short-term hydrothermal environment, which encompassed a multi-faceted analysis that included surface analysis, degradation process analysis, microstructure analysis, and structure strength analysis. Results show that performance of composites could be attributed to the weak interfacial adhesion, these interfacial defects can be seen as observed in the electron micrographs. In the presence of water molecules, it was observed that available interfacial bonds were susceptible to water during deformation. Moreover, the degradation behavior of the resultant network from the filler-polymer composites could be monitored through available functional groups changes, which could provide an insight into the degradation pattern.