Musa fiber-reinforced PLA biocomposites and their mechanical properties

Authors

  • Francisco Javier Enríquez-Medrano Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada. Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, Saltillo, México. CP. 25294
  • Hened Saade-Caballero Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada. Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, Saltillo, México. CP. 25294
  • Ricardo Mendoza-Carrizales Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada. Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, Saltillo, México. CP. 25294
  • Julia Medrano-Macías Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Col. Buenavista, Saltillo, México. CP. 25315
  • José Alejandro Díaz Elizondo Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada. Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, Saltillo, México. CP. 25294

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v16i30.4042

Keywords:

composite material, Musa fiber, polylactic acid

Abstract

This study analyzed polylactic acid biocomposites reinforced with banana (Musa) fiber, evaluating its effect on mechanical properties before and after accelerated aging. Analyses (FTIR, XRD, TGA) confirmed that the fiber contains hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, with a higher cellulose fraction due to its high crystallinity. Before aging, tensile strength and tensile modulus did not show a significant improvement with increasing fiber content, although impact strength and hardness did improve slightly. Nevertheless, elongation at break decreased. After 240 h of exposure in the UV chamber, the mechanical properties of the biocomposites degraded, with a reduction in tensile strength and modulus and an increase in elongation at break. Despite this, the reinforced biocomposites showed better mechanical properties than pure PLA after aging.

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Published

2025-10-10

How to Cite

Enríquez-Medrano, Francisco Javier, Hened Saade-Caballero, Ricardo Mendoza-Carrizales, Julia Medrano-Macías, and José Alejandro Díaz Elizondo. 2025. “Musa Fiber-Reinforced PLA Biocomposites and Their Mechanical Properties”. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Agrícolas 16 (30). México, ME:e4042. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v16i30.4042.

Issue

No. 30 (2025): Especial

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Articles

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