(280f) Physico-Mechanical and Morphological Study on Hemp-Polybutylene Succinate Biocomposites

Most commercially available plastics today are non-biodegradable and cause serious concern for the environment, associated with their disposal. Hence the use of renewable resources like biopolymers and biofibers for the fabrication of biodegradable plastics is the need of the hour that can partially solve the problem of plastic pollution. In the present research biofiber hemp (untreated and surface modified) has been effectively reinforced with biopolymer PBS (Polybutylene succinate) to fabricate biocomposites using injection molding method. Surface modification of hemp fiber was done with aqueous shellac resin to study the characteristics of the treated hemp-PBS composite. Fiber loading up to 20 wt% with PBS could be achieved. Mechanical properties (Tensile and Izod impact), moisture absorption analysis and SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) analysis were done to evaluate the properties of the biocomposite. Surface treatment with shellac resin resulted in an increase in tensile modulus and decrease in tensile strength as compared to untreated hemp composites. The impact strength of composite specimens (with and without notch) decreased with increase in fiber loading in comparison to neat PBS although the treated composite specimens had better impact strength than the untreated specimens.

Key Words:- PBS, Hemp, Biodegradable, Surface modification, Biocomposite