International Polymer Processing Effect of natural fiber and processing methods on degradability of NR/PLA composites --Manuscript Draft-- Manuscript Number: IP2836 Full Title: Effect of natural fiber and processing methods on degradability of NR/PLA composites Article Type: Regular Contributed Article Corresponding Author: Chaiwat Ruksakulpiwat, Ph.D. Khon Kaen University Muang, Khon Kaen THAILAND Corresponding Author Secondary Information: Corresponding Author's Institution: Khon Kaen University Corresponding Author's Secondary Institution: First Author: Punmanee Juntuek, Ph.D. First Author Secondary Information: Order of Authors: Punmanee Juntuek, Ph.D. Yupaporn Ruksakulpiwat, Ph.D. Pranee Chumsamrong, Ph.D. Chaiwat Ruksakulpiwat, Ph.D. Order of Authors Secondary Information: Manuscript Region of Origin: THAILAND Abstract: In this study, vetiver grass fiber was used as a natural fiber in natural rubber (NR) and polylactic acid (PLA) composite. Glycidyl methacrylate grafted natural rubber (NR-g- GMA) was used as a compatibilizer. The degradability of PLA and PLA composites was studied under soil burial test. It was shown that vetiver grass fiber showed a significant role in the degradability of PLA composites under soil burial condition. Mechanical properties of PLA composites dramatically decreased after burial in soil compared to those of pure PLA. Moreover, addition of vetiver grass fiber at 20 and 30% (w/w) content led to a significant increase in weight loss of the specimens with increasing burial time. Furthermore, comparisons of mechanical properties of PLA and PLA composites prepared from two molding techniques, injection molding and compression molding, were made. Injection molded neat PLA and PLA composites showed higher molecular weight reduction after processing than compression molding. This led to the lower mechanical properties of injection molded neat PLA than those of compression molded neat PLA. However, for PLA composites, the injection molded specimens showed higher tensile strength than compression molded specimens. This is the result of higher fiber orientation along flow direction in injection molding. From SEM micrographs, better interfacial adhesion between PLA, vetiver grass fiber, and NR particles was observed with the addition of NR-g-GMA. This indicated that the miscibility of PLA/vetiver/NR can be improved by using NR-g-GMA as a compatibilizer. Powered by Editorial Manager® and Preprint Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation