Hybrid-Biodegradable Film Made From Polylactic Acid
Siti Norasmah Surip1, Siti Ayuni Hamka2

1Dr. Siti Norasmah Hj. Surip, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Siti Ayuni Hamka, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Manuscript received on 20 March 2016 | Revised Manuscript received on 30 March 2016 | Manuscript published on 30 March 2016 | PP: 17-21 | Volume-5 Issue-1, March 2016 | Retrieval Number: A1548035116©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: In this experimental study, the biodegradability of PLA/EFB film with two different mixings; with and without lemongrass fibers (LG) were investigated by the landfill degradation. PLA/EFB film without the presence of lemongrass fibers showed the most significance of weight loss compared to the samples with the presence of lemongrass fibers. The highest weight loss percentage recorded in PLA:EFB:LG was in ratio 3 which is 8.42%. Meanwhile, in PLA:EFB, the highest weight loss percentage was recorded in ratio 3 (32.05%) and the lowest was in ratio 4 (19.22%). Ratio 1 acted as the comparison parameter in both composites mixing. Four different ratio of PLA/EFB showed significance improvement in Young’s modulus with ratio 4 had the highest reading (1492.2 MPa) and ratio 2 with the lowest reading (1021.1 MPa). In MOR, ratio 2 exhibited the highest reading (30.14 MPa) while ratio 4 with the lowest reading (9.49 MPa).
Keywords: Bio-composites, Lemon grass, Anti-microbial, Empty fruit bunches, Poly lactic acid.

Scope of the Article: Bio-Science and Bio-Technology