Recycled Low Density Polyethylene Reinforced with Deverra tortuosa Vegetable Fibers

In this work, natural fibers extracted from the medicinal aromatic plant Deverra tortuosa, with different sizes (S1 = 2 mm and S2 = 500 mu m), were incorporated into recycled low density polyethylene (rLDPE) to produce sustainable biocomposites. Compounding was performed with different fiber concentrations (0 to 30% wt.) via twin-screw extrusion followed by injection molding. Based on the samples obtained, a comprehensive series of characterization was conducted, encompassing morphological and mechanical (flexural, tensile, hardness, and impact) properties. Additionally, thermal properties were assessed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to elucidate potential chemical interactions and changes with processing. Across the range of conditions investigated, substantial improvements were observed in the rLDPE properties, in particular for the tensile modulus (23% for S1 and 104% for S2), flexural modulus (47% for S1 and 61% for S2), and flexural strength (31% for S1 and 65% for S2). Nevertheless, the tensile strength decreased (15% for S1 and 46% for S2) due to poor fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion. These preliminary results can be used for further development in sustainable packaging materials.