Development and characterisation of sugarcane bagasse nanocellulose/ PLA composites

Nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse fibres was isolated via chemo-mechanical method subjected to preparation of its PLA-based bionanocomposites using an Injection moulding process with varying weight percentages of nanocellulose. The mechanical properties (i.e. tensile, flexural, fracture toughness, and impact), thermal property (TGA analysis) and dynamic mechanical properties (i.e. storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping) of the prepared bionanocomposites were studied. In addition, water absorption behaviour in terms of maximum water uptake and sorption, diffusion and permeability coefficients of the bionanocomposites were also investigated. Anoticeable improvement in thermal stability, water resistance, and mechanical performance was seen in bionanocomposites with 2 wt. % of nanocellulose. There were 41.44%, 26.21%, 89.79%, and 16.38% improvements in tensile strength, flexural strength, fracture toughness and impact strength, respectively, for 2 wt. % of nanocellulose reinforcement composite over neat PLA matrix. ANOVA analysis was also performed and found that contents of nanocellulose have asignificant impact on the mechanical properties of the bionanocomposites.