Investigation of Eggshell Powder as Inorganic Filler of Bio-Blended between Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)

Abstract

The utilization of egg-shell powder (ESP) as a bio-fillers for the extender calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the biopolymer materials was examined in this research. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate had selected as the biopolymers which were prepared via melt blending and mixed with 5 wt% of ESP for the fabrication of composites. The different ratios between PLA and PBS in the sample were blended in the intermeshing internal mixer at various contents. The properties of this study were characterized by mechanical properties, morphological properties, and thermal behavior. Ultimate tensile strength and modulus of the blends were reduced when filled with increasing PBS. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in the elongation at break and impact strength of PLA/PBS blending composites. SEM micrograph showed the outcome on the fracture surface sample which could be the poor interfacial adhesion of tertiary phases. DSC test revealed that PBS and ESP affected on the declination of melting temperature (Tm) and the percentage of crystallinity (%ꭓc) in PLA. Similarly, PLA and ESP could be decreased in the Tm and %ꭓc in PBS. Moreover, the minor phase of PBS (25 wt% of PBS), %ꭓc was the highest of the PBS phase of all samples.