Cost Reduction and Mechanical Enhancement of Biopolyesters Using an Agricultural Byproduct from Konjac Glucomannan Processing

摘要

Extensive applications of many sustainable biopolyester materials are limited due to their high cost and poor properties. To resolve these problems, we developed a strategy using an agricultural byproduct derived from konjac glucomannan processing, the konjac fly powders (KFPs), to reduce the cost, preserve the biodegradability, and improve the Se mechanical properties of biopolyesters. The result indicated that the multiple components in KFPs complicate our understanding of the reinforcing mechanism. However, from the tensile and dynamic mechanical behavior, matrix filler interaction, and fracture morphology of composites, we concluded that the mechanical enhancement of KFPs was selective. By controlling melt mixing and compression molding, the elongation at break and tensile strength of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3,4)HB) rather than polybutylene succinate (PBS) or polylactide (PLA) could be enhanced by 205% and 111%, respectively, and the cost of composites reduced by 4-22%. Also, the onset degradation temperature of P(3.4)HB at a low KFP loading was about 40 degrees C higher than neat P(3,4)HB. The enhancing effect of KFPs was mainly attributed to its strong interaction with P(3,4)HB and the homogeneous structure of their composites.