Enhancement of mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of sisal/PHBV biocomposite by fibre modification

Lignocellulosic biocomposite is a promising biodegradable materials, though improvement of the interfacial adhesion between cellulose fibre and polymer matrix is still challenged. Therefore, this work investigated the effect of propionylation of sisal reinforced fibre in the sisal/polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) biocomposite. Propionylation involved esterification substitution of propionic anhydride to hydroxyl group of sisal fibre, where ester group (COOR) of propionylated fibre was successfully observed by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Then mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated and biodegradation characteristics were assessed. The tensile strength and modulus of propionylated sisal/PHBV biocomposite were greater than unmodified sisal/PHBV, which revealed better compatibility at the interface. In addition, propionate moieties of sisal fibre could induce crystalline formation of PHBV, as determined by an increase of crystalline phase. The higher decomposition temperature (Td) and activation energy (Ea) of 155 kJ·mol -1 , determined by thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA), were strong confirmation of good thermal resistance of the propionylated sisal biocomposite. The storage modulus, as characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analyser (DMTA), also revealed the improvement of stiffness. Bacterial growth tests evaluated the inhibition of bacterial growth on the PHBV biocomposites. It was clear that propionylation of sisal fibre decreased colonization of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli ( E.coli ).