Pla RH Mdi
Pla RH Mdi
Pla RH Mdi
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-019-1882-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Abstract
Blends of polylactide (PLA) and rice husk (RH) were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and characterized for mechanical
properties, and microstructure. Scanning electron micrographs illustrated the occurrence of phase separation in PLA/RH blends,
leading to poor tensile properties. To strengthen the blend mechanical properties, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) was
added as an interfacial compatibilizer, which would improve the tensile strength and notched Izod impact of the composites
containing RH (20–50 wt%). A porous morphology showing several connected voids was observed on the surface of all PLA/RH
and PLA/RH/MDI composites buried in soil for specific periods of time. The size of the voids considerably increased with the
RH content. RH would be an excellent filler, compatibilized with MDI, to enhance the biodegradation and mechanical properties
of the resultant environment-friendly composites for 3D printing applications.
Introduction nanoplatelet (GNP) and graphene oxide (GO) have been used
as additives in PLA. They cause PLA to deliver higher per-
Polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer produced from formance in biomedical applications (e.g., tissue engineering
corn starch. PLA exhibits promising properties, but its high and drug transport) [24]. A study on the surface properties of
cost, poor tearing strength, and low toughness restrict its ap- PLA/GO and PLA/GNP films [25] reported that GO and
plications [1]. Using fillers is a good way to decrease the cost graphene could be safely incorporated into PLA to improve
of PLA. Popular fillers are organic or inorganic materials [2], its mechanical properties for biomedical engineering. GNP
talc [3], paper pulp [4], sisal [5], carbon blacks [6], banana with a thickness of 2 nm and a length of 1–2 μm was used
fiber [7], starch [8], jute [9], oyster shell [10], flax [11–13], as reinforcement filler in PLA. The incorporation of GNP
kenaf [9], bamboo [14], ammonium salt [15], corn starch [16], improved the thermostability and tensile strength. Even small
tapioca [17], wood flour [18], carbon nanotubes [19], some amounts of GNP (≤ 0.25 wt%) exhibited excellent biocompat-
polymers [20, 21], and plasticizers [17, 22, 23]. Graphene ibility [26]. GNP was blended with PLA, and the blend
* Chi-Hui Tsou 4
Department of Applied Cosmetology, Kao Yuan University,
[email protected] Kaohsiung 82101, Taiwan, Republic of China
* Manuel Reyes De Guzman 5
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan
[email protected] University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan,
Republic of China
1
Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan
6
Province, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical
University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, China Engineering, Chung Yuan University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan,
2
Department of Materials Science, Chulalongkorn University, Republic of China
Bangkok 10330, Thailand 7
Department of Fashion Business Administration, Lee-Ming Institute
3
Department of Materials and Textiles, Oriental Institute of of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei City 24305, Taiwan, Republic of
Technology, Pan-Chiao 22064, Taiwan, Republic of China China
227 Page 2 of 10 J Polym Res (2019) 26:227
hydrolytic degradation after 6 months was determined. improving PLA/RH composites were investigated: (1)
Compared with neat PLA, PLA/GNP composites demonstrat- grafting with MAH to hydrophilize PLA; (2) using a methy-
ed firmer adhesion to human skin fibroblasts. They did not lene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) additive to enhance the
release toxins after the hydrolytic degradation [27]. Marconi compatibility between the polymer and the filler; (3) combin-
[28] blended GNP with PLA to produce a material for 3D ing methods (1) and (2) to enhance the bonding between PLA
printing; the addition of GNP did not improve both the stress and RH by first grafting PLA with MAH to prepare PLA-g-
and the strain, but enhanced the stiffness. However, both GO MAH, then using MDI to compatibilize PLA-g-MAH and RH
and GNP are extremely expensive and nonbiodegradable. composites. The second method (using an MDI additive) was
Hence, sustainable and renewable fillers for PLA should be demonstrated to be the most effective; however, the degrad-
explored. Rice husk (RH) is ideal not only because it is avail- ability was not reported. Our present study obtained remark-
able free-of-charge but also because it is nonabrasive, renew- able results from the biodegradation and biological activity of
able, biodegradable, and low in density. It has potential as a PLA/RH/MDI composites. This favorable condition en-
low-cost feedstock for fuel ethanol production through dilute hanced the interfacial compatibility between the components
acid pretreatment [20, 29]. Some studies on polymers and RH and the mechanical properties of renewable PLA/RH/MDI
composites have been reported [30–35]. Zhao et al. [30] re- composites that were processed into filaments for 3D printing
ported that RH was blended with polycaprolactone to prepare applications. Finally, PLA and PLA/RH/MDI filaments with
biodegradable composites; the biodegradation increased with varying RH content were evaluated by submitting them to 3D
the RH content. Wang et al. [31] demonstrated that RH rein- printing technology.
forced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that was thermo-
treated, and the results indicated that the mechanical proper-
ties were substantially improved. However, HDPE was non-
Experimental
biodegradable. Arayapranee [34] investigated RH ash as filler
for natural rubber; the results revealed that the filler improved
Materials and preparation of composites
hardness but decreased tensile strength and tear strength. Jamil
[35] blended RH with natural rubber and HDPE, and showed
The PLA resin used in this study, with a trade name of
that the tensile and impact properties of HDPE/natural rubber
Biopolymer 4032D (Mw = 9.73 × 104) was obtained from
decreased with the RH content, but the hardness increased.
Natural Works. RH was produced by a husking machine that
Other reports [36–38] have discussed RH as filler in PLA.
separated the husk from Penglai rice, which was obtained
Hua et al. [36] modified maleic anhydride (MAH) with RH,
from Lu-Chu in Taiwan. Scheme 1 illustrates the preparation
and then blended it with PLA; the mechanical properties of the
of RH. PLA and RH were dried in a vacuum oven at 80 °C for
composite improved and the water absorbability decreased.
10 h. Varying weight ratios of dried PLA and RH were melt-
Battegazzore et al. [35] extracted silica powder from RH and
blended using a twin-screw extruder (SHJ-20 twin-screw ex-
used various amounts of the powder as filler in PLA; adding
truder, Nanjing Jiant, ZENIX, Taiwan) at a temperature of
the silica improved the storage modulus and reduced the ox-
190 °C; the screw speed was maintained at 180 rpm. Process
ygen permeability of PLA; however, the tensile strength was
conditions were chosen on the basis of the melting tempera-
weakened [37]. Tran et al. [36] treated RH with two kinds of
ture of polymer, which approached 170 °C; the manufacturing
organosilanes―γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and γ-
temperature was 15–20 °C higher than the polymer melting
glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane―to reduce the moisture
point. Two composites were produced: PLA x RH y and
sensitivity and increase the surface energy of RH; the results
PLAxRHyMDI, where x = wt% of PLA and y = wt% of RH.
showed that both silane treatments enhanced the interfacial
These two compounds (with and without MDI) were then hot-
adhesion between PLA and RH [38]. A hydrophilic RH had
pressed at 190 °C and 8 MPa for 3 min. Table 1 summarizes
a poor dispersion in PLA, which was a hydrophobic thermo-
the compositions of the prepared specimens.
plastic; in other words, PLA was incompatible with RH.
Ineffective adhesion between the filler and the polymer result-
ed in PLA/RH blends with weak tensile strength. Modifying Mechanical properties
the filler and the matrix can increase the interfacial compati-
bility between the filler and PLA. Wu et al. [39] fabricated 3D The tensile properties of PLA, PLAxRHy, and PLAxRHyMDI
printing filaments from biodegradable PLA and RH; acrylic specimens at 25 °C were determined using a tensile testing
acid-grafted PLA was incorporated with RH that was treated machine (model AG-10KNA, Shimadzu). All specimens were
with a synthesized coupling agent to enhance the properties of prepared according to ASTM D638 (Type 4). A 35-mm dog-
the PLA/RH composites. The results showed excellent tensile bone-shaped gauge was used for tensile tests. The tensile
properties, but the process was complicated and unsuitable for strength and elongation at break were based on the average
industrialization. In our recent work [40], three methods of tensile results of five specimens.
J Polym Res (2019) 26:227 Page 3 of 10 227
Crushed sieve
analysis
Water
Rice Husk
Chaff
Brown Rice
Rice Paddy
Rice huller
Renewable-Based
Composites Melt blending
Notched Izod impact tests were conducted using DG-1B dimension of 110 × 13 × 0.2 mm3. Soil was placed in a plastic
(Toyo Seiki) according to ASTM 256; the specimen dimen- box with a dimension of 20 × 14 × 8 cm3, wherein the soil was
sions were 64 mm × 12.7 mm (length × width); sharp notches kept moistened with deionized water (30%) at 21–25 °C (ambi-
of 2.5-mm depth were made using a cutter. For each compos- ent temperature) [16, 17]. After every 30 days during the soil test,
ite, five replicated specimens were considered to represent an a specimen of buried PLA, PLAxRHy, and PLAxRHyMDI was
average value. taken and washed with water and then dried in an oven at 35 °C.
The weight loss percentage was based on the average result of at
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy least five measurements.
Morphology
Fig. 5 Surface SEM micrographs of following specimens buried in soil for 90 days: (a) PLA; (b) PLA80RH20; (c) PLA70RH30MDI; (d) PLA60RH40; (e)
PLA50RH50; (f) PLA80RH20 MDI; (g) PLA70RH30 MDI; (h) PLA60RH40 MDI; (i) PLA50RH50MDI
the PLA matrix [Fig. 4(c)]. Numerous cavities were formed surfaces with several cracks after burying them in soil for
because of the incompatibility between PLA and RH, several days; the size of the cracks considerably increased
resulting in a weak mechanical property, which is consistent with the burial time. Similarly, at the same burial time, the size
with the results in Figs. 2 and 3. The compatibility of compo- of the voids on the surface of PLAxRHyMDI specimens sub-
nents in PLA70RH30 specimen was improved when MDI was stantially increased as the RH content increased. However,
added [Fig. 4(d)]; the morphology showed compatibility (i.e., fungi-decomposed PLAxRHyMDI specimens had fewer voids
without the formation of voids) because of the enhanced in- than PLAxRHy specimens. This result might be attributed to
terfacial adhesion between PLA and RH. The compatibility in the increased packing density and reduced hydrophilic char-
PLA70RH30MDI specimen was due to the interaction between acteristics of PLA. As evidenced by the FTIR analysis, the
the –OH groups of RH and the isocyanate groups of MDI and reaction of the carboxylic acid groups of PLA molecules and
between the carboxylic acid groups of PLA and the isocyanate the hydroxyl groups of RH with the isocyanate groups of MDI
groups of MDI. Therefore, the two phases had strong affinity molecules occurred during the melt-blending processes in-
with each other, which would lead to favorable mechanical volving PLAxRHyMDI specimens.
properties.
Figure 5 compares and contrasts the surface SEM micro- Biodegradation
graphs of PLAxRHy and PLAxRHyMDI specimens buried in
soil for 30 and 90 days. As expected, PLA x RH y and Figure 6 gives the percentage of weight loss of PLA,
PLAxRHyMDI specimens were observed to have porous PLA x RHy, PLA xRH yMDI specimens buried in soil for
varying amounts of time. The weight loss of PLAxRHy and Water absorption
PLAxRHyMDI specimens increased with the RH content.
PLAxRHyMDI specimens exhibited lower weight loss than Figure 7 plots water absorption data for PLA, PLAxRHy, and
either PLA or PLAxRHy specimens at the same burial time. PLAxRHyMDI specimens, and indicates a trend of increasing
The SEM micrographs in Fig. 5 indicated that PLAxRHy spec- water absorption (0.58%–18.57%) with the RH content (0%–
imens were more readily degraded than PLAxRHyMDI spec- 50%). Increasing the RH content enhanced the water absorp-
imens. Figures 5 and 6 show that the degradations and weight tion because of the hydrophilic property of RH. At the same
losses of PLAxRHy and PLAxRHyMDI specimens consider- RH content, PLAxRHyMDI specimens exhibited higher resis-
ably increased with the amount of RH. Therefore, adding RH tance against water absorption than PLAxRHy specimens. The
can enhance the biodegradability of PLA, and adding MDI to improved water resistance of PLAxRHyMDI is attributed to
PLAxRHy composites decreased the biodegradation because the dense packing because of the cross-linking in the compos-
of the cross-linking between PLA and RH; thus, the surface of ites. According to the FTIR analysis, several hydrophilic OH
PLAxRHy was difficult to degrade. groups from RH reacted with the NCO groups of MDI.
Fig. 9 L929 fibroblasts cultured for 3 days with following specimens: (1) original control; (2) positive control; (3) negative control; (a) PLA;
(b)PLA80RH20; (c) PLA70RH30; (d) PLA60RH40; (e) PLA50RH50; (f) PLA80RH20MDI; (g) PLA70RH30 MDI; (h) PLA60RH40MDI; (i) PLA50RH50MDI
on advanced materials & processes for Rf & Thz Applications. 37. Battegazzore D, Bocchini S (2014) J Alongi. RSC Adv 4(97):
IEEE, 2018 54703–54712
29. López Y, Gullón B (2011) J Puls et al. Holzforschung 65(4):467– 38. Tsou CH, Hung WS, Wu CS (2014). Mater Sci Medzg 20(4):446–
473 451
30. Zhao Q, Tao J, Yam RCM, Mok ACK, Li RKY, Song C (2008) 39. Wu CS (2019) CH Tsou. J Polym Res 26:44
Biodegradation behavior of polycaprolactone/rice husk 40. Tsou CH, Wu CS, Hung WS, De Guzmana MR et al (2019)
ecocomposites in simulated soil medium. Polym Degrad Stabil Rendering polypropylene biocomposites antibacterial through
93(8):1571–1576 modification with oyster shell powder. Polymer 160:265–271
31. Rozman HD, Yeo YS (2003) GS Tay et al. Polym Test 22(6):617– 41. Yeh JT, Tsou CH, Li YM, Xiao HW, Wu CS, Chai WL, Lai YC,
623 Wang CK (2012) The compatible and mechanical properties of
32. Wang WH, Yang XH (2014) FH Bu et al. Polym Compos 35(11): biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/ethylene glycidyl methacrylate co-
2180–2186 polymer blends. J Polym Res 19(2):9766
33. Premalal HGB, Ismail H, Baharin A (2003) Effect of processing
42. Tsou CH, Yao WH, Lu YC, Tsou CY, Wu CS, Chen J, Wang RY, Su
time on the tensile. Polym Plast Technol 42(5):827–851
C, Hung WS, De Guzman M, Suen MC (2017). Polymers 9(100):
34. Arayapranee W, Na-Ranong N, Rempel GL (2005) Application of
1–13
rice husk ash as fillers in the natural rubber industry. Journal of
Applied Polymer Science 98(1):8 43. Ohkita T, Lee SH (2004) Effect of aliphatic isocyanates (HDI and
35. Jamil MS, Ahmad I, Abdullah I (2006) Effects of Rice husk filler on LDI) as coupling agents on the properties of eco-composites from
the mechanical and thermal properties of liquid natural rubber biodegradable polymers and corn starch. J Adhes Sci Technol
Compatibilized high-density polyethylene/natural rubber blends. J 18(8):905–924
Polym Res 13(4):315–321
36. Hua J, Zhao ZM, Yu W, Wei BZ (2011) Hydroscopic and mechan- Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to
ical properties performance analysis of Rice husk powder/PLA jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
composites. Adv Mater Res 230-232:1231–1235