Fabrication and testing of crop waste Ceiba Pentandra Shell Powder reinforced biodegradable composite films

Abstract

Abstract Ceiba Pentandra Shell Powder (CPSP) bio waste is chosen as a bio filler combined with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) as a matrix to make biofilms to increase the exploitation of bio waste materials and reduce the use of plastic materials. The fabricated biofilms endured the structural, thermal, microstructural, mechanical, UV barrier, opacity, water absorption, and soil burial properties. FTIR plots indicated no significant chemical reaction or formation of new functional groups during an interaction between PVA and CPSP. XRD diffractograms represented the crystallinity index (35.3, 38.6, 42.3, 46.4 and 48.5%) and crystalline size (18.14, 20.89, 23.23, 24.87and 26.34 nm) of biofilms increased with CPSP loading (5–25 wt. %). The PVA/CPSP films are thermally stable up to 322 ℃. The peak highs of AFM images showed that the films surface roughness gradually increased from 94.75 nm (5 wt. % CPSP) to 320.17 nm (25 wt. % CPSP). The FESEM micrographs clarify the homogenous distribution of CPSP materials in the PVA matrix. Tensile strength and tensile modulus are noticeably increased by 26.32% and 37.92%, respectively, due to the loading of CPSP from 5 wt. % to 20 wt. % in the PVA matrix. The PVA/CPSP films outperform than pure PVA films in UV shielding (350–450 nm). The 59% of weight loss of films was estimated during 60 days of burial time. Overall, PVA/ CPSP (5–25 wt. %) films are biodegradable and have promising applications as good packaging material.