Degradation of linear low-density polyethylene/poly(vinyl alcohol)/kenaf composites

The interest of this study was to examine various kenaf (KNF) loadings and burial time, and their effects on degradability behavior of linear low-density polyethylene/poly(vinyl alcohol)/kenaf (LLDPE/PVOH/KNF) composites in soil. The LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composites with various KNF loadings were melt-mixed in a Thermo Haake internal mixer. The composites were buried in soil and their extent of degradability was assessed by tensile properties, morphological study, and weight loss and crystallinity measurements of the degraded composites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was utilized to monitor the changes in chemical structure of the composites before and after degradation in soil. The results showed that with increase in KNF loading, the tensile modulus increased; meanwhile, the tensile strength and elongation-at-break of the degraded composites were dropped. Tensile properties of the degraded composites were decreased with prolonging soil burial time. The formation of cracks and pores was observed in field emission scanning electron microscope micrographs. By measuring the weight loss in LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composite samples before and after the soil burial testing and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, it was found that the weight loss and crystallinity of the composites increased with soil burial time. The degradation of the composites was confirmed by the formation of a strong absorption band assigned to carbonyl groups.