title: Preparation and properties of biodegradable films from Sterculia urens short fiber/cellulose green composites.
abstract: The development of commercially viable "green products", based on natural resources for the matrices and reinforcements, in a wide range of applications, is on the rise. The present paper focuses on Sterculia urens short fiber reinforced pure cellulose matrix composite films. The morphologies of the untreated and 5% NaOH (alkali) treated S. urens fibers were observed by SEM. The effect of 5% NaOH treated S. urens fiber (5, 10, 15 and 20% loading) on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites films is discussed. This paper presents the developments made in the area of biodegradable S. urens short fiber/cellulose (SUSF/cellulose) composite films, buried in the soil and later investigated by the (POM), before and after biodegradation has taken place. SUSF/cellulose composite films have great potential in food packaging and for medical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, CSIR Campus, Building 14D, Private Bag X025, Lynwood Ridge 0040, Pretoria, South Africa. jayaramphd@gmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jayaramudu
authors.forename: G Siva Mohan
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varaprasad
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sadiku
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha Ray
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varada Rajulu
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D032361:Sterculia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013784:Textiles / Q000032:analysis; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D002482:Cellulose