Biodegradation of Green Composites

M. Shibata, S. Oyamada, S.I. Kobayashi, D. Yaginuma, Mechanical properties and biodegradability of green composites based on biodegradable polyesters and lyocell fabric. /. Appl. Poly. Sci. 92(6), 3857-3863 (2004). 

This chapter focuses on soy protein and starch-based green composites and discusses the effects of biodegradable resin modifications and fiber treatment on mechanical and chemical properties. In addition, biodegradation of green composites has been briefly described. 

SEM micrographs of biodegradable polymer green composite, tested by the soil burial test. 

H. Kinoshita, K. Kaizu, M. Fukuda, H. Tokunaga, K. Koga and K. Ikeda, Development of green composite consists of woodchips, bamboo fibers and biodegradable adhesive . Composites Part B Eng, 2009,40, 607-12. 

George et al. [27] studied stress relaxation behaviour of pineapple fibre-reinforced polyethylene composites. They found stress relaxation to be decreased with an increase of fibre content due to better reinforcing effect It is also reported by George et al. [28] that properties of fibre-reinforced composites depend on many factors like fibre-matrix adhesion, volume fraction of fibre, fibre aspect ratio, fibre orientation as well as stress transfer efficiency of the interface. Luo and Netravah [29] found an increase in the mechanical properties of green composites prepared from PALFs and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) resin (a biodegradable polymer) with the fibres in the longitudinal direction. However, the researchers reported a negative effect of the fibres on the properties in the transverse direction. 

In this section, we try to clarify where biocomposites are positioned among the whole composite materials. In the previous section, the importance of green composite studies was described, and related to the biocomposite-engineering field. The combination of natural fibers and biomass-derived biodegradable resin is... 

Goda et al. [133] studied the effect of water content on the impact energy of green composites with ramie fibers and biodegradable thermoplastic resin made... 

The green composites are used in aircrafts and ships because of less weight and eco-friendly character which is also biodegradable. It is known that the fuel consumption will come down certainly if the weight of the vehicle is decreased. These types of green composites are also used in trains for the above reason. 

Imam, S.H., Gordon, S.H., Shogren, R.L., Greene, R.V., 1995, Biodegradation of starch-poly( -hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) composites in municipal activated sludge. / Environ. Polym. Degrad. 3 205-213. 

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