Biocomposites made from short abaca fiber and biodegradable polyesters

Natural fiber-reinforced biodegradable polyester composites were prepared from biodegradable polyesters and surface-untreated or -treated abaca fibers (length ca. 5 mm) by melt mixing and subsequent injection molding. Poly(butylene succinate)(PBS), polyestercarbonate (PEC)/poly(lactic acid)(PLA) blend, and PLA were used as biodegradable polyesters. Esterifications using acetic anhydride and butyric anhydride, alkali treatment, and cyanoethylation were performed as surface treatments on the fiber. The flexural moduli of all the fiber-reinforced composites increased with fiber content. The effect of the surface treatment on the flexural modulus of the fiber-reinforced composites was not so pronounced. The flexural strength of PBS composites increased with fiber content, and esterification of the fiber by butyric anhydride gave the best result. For the PEC/PLA composite, flexural strength did not increase with the fiber reinforcement. The result of soil-burial tests showed that the composites using untreated fiber have a higher weight loss than both the neat resin and the composites made using acetylated fiber.