Biocomposites have recently received more attention because of raising environmental awareness and the drive toward sustainable technologies. The most common biodegradable polymer is poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which has an excellent balance of physical and rheological properties, but there is some limit to its usage. PLA properties can be improved by adding different types of fibers or fillers that come from agricultural waste. In this study, corn cob and lavender stem were used to reinforce PLA without any coupling agent, and the properties of the composites were investigated. The melt flow rate (MFR) values decreased with the corn cob content and increased with the addition of lavender stem. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile and flexural modulus of the composites increased and the strengths decreased with the reinforcement material content. The rigidness of PLA slightly decreased with the addition of fillers. There was no significant effect on the thermal properties. The unremarkable improvement of the reinforcement was due to the lack of appropriate adhesion of the two phases. The structure of the compounds was found to be homogenous on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The incorporation of corn cob and lavender stem can reduce the production cost of materials.

The study investigates a ternary biopolymer blend composed of biopolymers polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate- co-valerate (PHBV), and lignin extracted from patchouli fiber waste for sustainable packaging applications. A PLA: PHBV blend (70:30) was enhanced by incorporating hydrophobic lignin as a filler in varying loadings of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 wt%. The ternary blend was prepared using twin-screw extrusion process, pelletized, and compression-molded into specimens. Comprehensive characterization of the ternary blend included evaluations of water barrier, mechanical, functional, thermal, and morphological properties. Results demonstrated that lignin addition notably improved the compatibility between PLA and PHBV, leading to enhanced barrier performance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. SEM morphology confirmed improved interfacial adhesion due to hydrophobic nature of lignin, which facilitated better dispersion at lower filler loadings. However, at 12 wt% lignin, property reductions were observed, attributed to lignin agglomeration and poor dispersion. Optimal performance was achieved at 9 wt% lignin loading, offering a balance of improved properties without compromising processability or structural integrity. This study highlights the potential of the PLA/PHBV/lignin ternary blend as a viable, eco-friendly material for sustainable packaging, showcasing improved functionality and environmental compatibility compared to conventional polymers.

This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.

This research aimed to enhance the properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites by incorporating hemp microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Additionally, to improve interfacial adhesion between PHBV and MCC phases, a compatibilizer consisting of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) grafted with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) modified by vinyltrimethoxysilane (ENR-vinyl silanized MFC) was introduced. The addition of 5 wt% MCC increases the flexural modulus by approximately 65%. The use of ENR-vinyl silanized MFC as a compatibilizer demonstrated improved compatibility, as observed in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. After 30 days of accelerated weathering (QUV) exposure, the flexural strength of the PHBV-based biocomposite with ENR-vinyl silanized MFC and MCC (vinyl silanized MFC biocomposite) was superior to that of the other samples. The remaining flexural strength can be sequentially categorized as follows: vinyl silanized MFC > MFC > non-MFC > PHBV. The Tg of PHBV-based biocomposites showed no significant change. Interestingly, the crystallinity of the vinyl silanized MFC biocomposite was the highest among all materials and demonstrated higher hydrophobicity. This makes the vinyl silanized MFC biocomposite a suitable material for construction, furniture, and both exterior and interior decoration.

Additive manufacturing is favored for its capacity to create intricate geometries and enhance component functionality more efficiently than traditional methods. Applying texture to materials is one of the processes used to add functionality to products, wherein it can improve adhesion and tribological behavior in biomedical applications while also controlling mechanical properties and providing perceptual and aesthetic improvements. In this study, custom black-white images containing vertical lines were prepared and added as textures to the design of tensile test specimens during slicing. Custom textured and untextured tensile test specimens were fabricated using the Fused Deposition Method with polylactic Acid filament to evaluate the effect of texture parameters, such as protrusion offset (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 mm), number of protrusions (3, 6) and infill pattern (rectilinear, line, concentric), on the tensile strength of the specimens. Through the analysis of tensile test results and examination of microscopic and slicing software images, it was found that texturing resulted in a reduction in ultimate tensile strength due to nozzle trajectory deviations and stress concentration. The least detrimental texturing parameters observed in this study were 0.5 mm protrusion offset and 3 protrusions with concentric and line infill patterns, resulting in a reduction in tensile strength of 2.36 and 5.79%, respectively when compared to untextured specimens.