ABSTRACT
Biodegradable composites have gained renewed interest as environmental friendly materials and for a sustainable development. This research overviews recent advances in Biodegradable composites based on Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) and waste cellulose fibers. In this work, we used waste newspaper cellulose fibers as reinforcement for Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) in order to improve its Mechanical, Thermal, Rheological and Biodegradability properties. The Biodegradable composites were prepared from Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) plasticized by glycerol as matrix. This TPS was reinforced with cellulose fibers, obtained from waste newspaper, with fiber content ranging from 0 to 30% (wt/wt of fibers to matrix). The compounding was carried out in Twin Screw Extruder and the specimens prepared in Compression Moulding. The mechanical and Thermal properties of this Biodegradable composite are increased compare to TPS. It’s also decrease the weight of specimens by soil burial test which confirms the increased the biodegradation. These results indicated that this Biodegradable composite could be fruitfully used as commodity plastics being strong, cheap, abundant and recyclable eco-friendly thermoplastic composite.
