Biodegradable polymer composite containing ground corn stalk modified with polydopamine

Abstract

Modifying plant fibers before their incorporation into the polymer matrix is a crucial factor that influences the characteristics of the resulting composites. This article reports on a study that investigated how modifying ground corn stalks impacted certain properties of a biodegradable polymer composite. The composite was made up of a mixture of polylactide and polycaprolactone in a ratio of 70:30, and the filler was modified using dopamine hydrochloride to create a thin polymer layer of polydopamine on the surface of the particles. The study evaluated the structural, mechanical, thermal, and thermomechanical properties of composites that contained 30%, 40%, or 50% of the filler by weight. Additionally, the tests to determine how well the composites would compost in an industrial setting were conducted. The results of the study showed that modifying the filler particles had a positive impact on most of the properties tested, including tensile strength, flexural strength, Young's modulus, storage modulus, and impact strength. Interestingly, despite concerns about the antibacterial properties of polydopamine, the composting tests revealed that the modification of the filler particles did not have any negative effects on the industrial composting process.