Crystallization Behavior of Poly(L-lactic acid)-based Ecocomposites Prepared With Kenaf Fiber and Rice Straw

Several composites of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with natural fibers (kenaf and rice straw) and pigments have been prepared and analyzed. The study of the thermal behavior has shown a rather important nucleation ability of these fillers for the crystallization of the PLLA component in the composites. Thus, the cooling from the melt of pure PLLA at 10 degrees C/min leads to an almost completely amorphous sample, while a high crystallinity (around 60%) is exhibited by the sample PLLA and rice straw (PLLA-RS)-yellow under those conditions. The analysis of the isothermal crystallization from the melt indicates that a maximum rate of crystallization is obtained for all the samples at around 105 C, although the rate is three times faster for samples PLLA and kenaf fiber (PLLA-KF), PLLA-KF-red, and PLLA-RS, in comparison with pure PLLA. The rate is increased by another factor of three for sample PLLA-RS-yellow. The analysis of the melting temperatures and crystallinities as a function of the crystallization temperature shows that there is a break at around 115 degrees C, which seems to be related to the formation of ordered crystals at higher temperatures and disordered ones at lower temperatures. Besides, the natural fibers are environmentally friendly and nonexpensive materials, and the higher crystallization rates of the composites will result in shorter production cycles of end-use articles. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:974-984, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers