Biodegradability of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composite reinforced with jute fibre

Poly(butylene Succinate) (PBS)/jute composites were prepared, and the effects of fibre content, diameter, surface modification and arrangement forms on the biodegradability were evaluated by compost-soil burial test. The weight losses of PBS/jute composites are higher than that of pure PBS film and bulk jute fibre, and decreased with increasing fibre content. The weight loss of PBS/10% jute composite after 180 (lays is 62.5%. In the case of the effect of fibre diameter, the weight loss is found to decrease with decreasing fibre diameter. For the effect of fibre surface modification, the order of higher weight loss is PBS/untreated jute > PBS/alkali treated jute > PBS/coupling agent treated jute. Furthermore. the composite of PBS/woven fabric has the highest weigh loss, followed by that of PBS/nonwoven fabric and PBS/bulk jute fibre, respectively. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.