Tailoring lightweight, mechanical and thermal performance of PLA/recycled HDPE biocomposite foams reinforced with kenaf fibre

With an increase in environmental issues regarding industrial wastes, recent researches are shifted toward green environmentally material using natural biomass, polymer and composite. In this work, the foamed reinforced poly(lactic) acid/recycled high-density polyethylene (PLA/rHDPE)/kenaf fibre biocomposites were prepared by extrusion and compression molding technique for the synergism of lightweight and performance. To reduce density of kenaf fibre biocomposite foam, without over sacrificing the performance, the determination of PLA/rHDPE blend formulation as matrix and azodicarbonamide (ADC) loadings was assessed based on morphology, mechanical and thermal properties. A fixed kenaf fibre loading of 30 wt% was incorporated in the composite system. Results revealed that (90/10) and (70/30) (wt/wt) % compatibilized blends of PLA/rHDPE showed an improvement in flexural properties up to 54 – 1549% as compared to the neat PLA and rHDPE. The (70/30) (wt/wt) % based kenaf biocomposites exhibited a notable density reduction at 5 phr of ADC up to 7% as compared to (90/10) (wt/wt)% based biocomposites. The early formulation was appeared as a preferable blending composition for having homogenous porous structured PLA/rHDPE/kenaf fibre biocomposites foams with reduced density and improved mechanical strength. These foamed composites have a high potential to replace traditional foamed materials used in construction interior applications.