Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure

Plant fibers have gained notoriety for reinforcing composite polymers due to their abundance, availability, versatility, and friendliness to the environment. Research in composites of biodegradable polymers with natural fibers as reinforcement will continue because the mechanical and physical proper...

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Main Authors: Natalia Gomez-Gast, Andrea Guevara-Morales, Ulises Figueroa-López, Eduardo San Martin-Martínez, Horacio Vieyra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:International Journal of Polymer Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ijps/9935365
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author Natalia Gomez-Gast
Andrea Guevara-Morales
Ulises Figueroa-López
Eduardo San Martin-Martínez
Horacio Vieyra
author_facet Natalia Gomez-Gast
Andrea Guevara-Morales
Ulises Figueroa-López
Eduardo San Martin-Martínez
Horacio Vieyra
author_sort Natalia Gomez-Gast
collection DOAJ
description Plant fibers have gained notoriety for reinforcing composite polymers due to their abundance, availability, versatility, and friendliness to the environment. Research in composites of biodegradable polymers with natural fibers as reinforcement will continue because the mechanical and physical properties, processability, and cost of plastics derived from petroleum are still needed in biodegradable polymers. This study analyzed the mechanical stability of biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate–thermoplastic starch (PHB-TPS) composites reinforced with oat and corn cob fibers under environmental conditions. We investigated how different fiber concentrations affect the mechanical properties of injection-molded composites, aiming to improve PHB’s performance while preserving its biodegradability. The composites were subjected to accelerated temperature/humidity exposure using a climatic chamber to simulate and evaluate mechanical properties before and after long-term environmental exposure to humidity, heat, and cold. Results showed that the exposure in the climatic chamber led to yield strength decreases of up to 80% due to moisture absorption and microcracks at the fiber-matrix interface. The PHB/TPS/oat and cob fiber blends demonstrated mechanical properties comparable to those of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), making them suitable for applications like packaging and containers.
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-5e54d052db57432895a4bcf91c54457b2025-08-20T02:37:17ZengWileyInternational Journal of Polymer Science1687-94302025-01-01202510.1155/ijps/9935365Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity ExposureNatalia Gomez-Gast0Andrea Guevara-Morales1Ulises Figueroa-López2Eduardo San Martin-Martínez3Horacio Vieyra4Tecnologico de MonterreyTecnologico de MonterreyTecnologico de MonterreyBiomaterials LaboratoryTecnologico de MonterreyPlant fibers have gained notoriety for reinforcing composite polymers due to their abundance, availability, versatility, and friendliness to the environment. Research in composites of biodegradable polymers with natural fibers as reinforcement will continue because the mechanical and physical properties, processability, and cost of plastics derived from petroleum are still needed in biodegradable polymers. This study analyzed the mechanical stability of biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate–thermoplastic starch (PHB-TPS) composites reinforced with oat and corn cob fibers under environmental conditions. We investigated how different fiber concentrations affect the mechanical properties of injection-molded composites, aiming to improve PHB’s performance while preserving its biodegradability. The composites were subjected to accelerated temperature/humidity exposure using a climatic chamber to simulate and evaluate mechanical properties before and after long-term environmental exposure to humidity, heat, and cold. Results showed that the exposure in the climatic chamber led to yield strength decreases of up to 80% due to moisture absorption and microcracks at the fiber-matrix interface. The PHB/TPS/oat and cob fiber blends demonstrated mechanical properties comparable to those of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), making them suitable for applications like packaging and containers.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ijps/9935365
spellingShingle Natalia Gomez-Gast
Andrea Guevara-Morales
Ulises Figueroa-López
Eduardo San Martin-Martínez
Horacio Vieyra
Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
International Journal of Polymer Science
title Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
title_full Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
title_fullStr Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
title_short Mechanical Behavior of Biodegradable PHB-TPS Reinforced With Oat and Corn Cob Fibers After Accelerated Thermal-Humidity Exposure
title_sort mechanical behavior of biodegradable phb tps reinforced with oat and corn cob fibers after accelerated thermal humidity exposure
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ijps/9935365
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AT andreaguevaramorales mechanicalbehaviorofbiodegradablephbtpsreinforcedwithoatandcorncobfibersafteracceleratedthermalhumidityexposure
AT ulisesfigueroalopez mechanicalbehaviorofbiodegradablephbtpsreinforcedwithoatandcorncobfibersafteracceleratedthermalhumidityexposure
AT eduardosanmartinmartinez mechanicalbehaviorofbiodegradablephbtpsreinforcedwithoatandcorncobfibersafteracceleratedthermalhumidityexposure
AT horaciovieyra mechanicalbehaviorofbiodegradablephbtpsreinforcedwithoatandcorncobfibersafteracceleratedthermalhumidityexposure