Natural Fiber-Reinforced PLA Composites Processing, Characterization and Applications Woodhead Publishing Series in Composites Science and Engineering Series

Amongst thermoplastic biodegradable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) has been widely used in many different applications but it still has limited use in various industrial sectors such as medical, packaging, textile, water, and wastewater treatment.

To increase the use of these materials more information is needed on their properties, characterization, processing, safety, and sustainability.

Natural Fibre-Reinforced PLA Composites: Processing, Characterization and Applications reviews the thermal, physico-chemical, fire retardant, mechanical, tribological, biodegradable and anti-microbial properties of these materials. Fabrication of PLA biocomposites using advanced fabrication techniques like additive manufacturing and electrospinning are also discussed in detail.
The book will be a valuable reference for academic and industrial researchers, materials scientists and engineers working in the development of polymers, bioplastics, polymer composites and biocomposites as well as industrial manufacturers.

Part I Manufacturing
1. Synthesis of PLA, processing and manufacturing techniques of PLA based composites with various reinforcements
2. Additive manufacturing and their influencing factors on the performance of PLA based Biocomposites
3. Electrospinning and their influencing factors on the performance of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites

Part II Performance Characterization
4. Thermal characterization of natural fibre based PLA composites with TGA, DSC, and DMA
5. Performance of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites under static loads
6. Performance of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites under dynamic loads
7. Compatibilization effects and influence of natural fibre treatment on the thermal, physico-chemical and mechanical properties of PLA based Biocomposites
8. Influence of various nanofillers on the thermal, physico-chemical and mechanical properties of PLA based Biocomposites
9. Synergistic effects of polymer blends on thermal, physico-chemical and mechanical properties of PLA based Biocomposites

Part III Environmental impact
10. Influence of water uptake and other aging conditions on the mechanical properties of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites
11. Biodegradability, soil burial and antimicrobial properties of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites
12. Lifecycle assessment, end of life options and recycling of bio-based products from PLA

Part IV Applications
13. PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites in biomedical and healthcare applications
14. PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites in packaging film applications
15. PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites for Tribological applications
16. PLA based Bionanocomposites for fire retardancy and elevated temperature applications
17. Shape memory effects of PLA based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites for sensor and actuator applications
18. Socioeconomic aspects, sustainability, and future-prospects of bio-based products from PLA

Dr. Chandrasekar Muthukumar is as an associate professor in the School of Aeronautical Sciences, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, India. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, India. His master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering was from Nanyang Technological University-TUM ASIA, Singapore. He received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia. His research interests include fibre metal laminates, natural fibres, biocomposites, aging, and their characterization. He has published >20 research articles in peer-reviewed SCI journals, authored and co-authored 6 book chapters, and 9 articles in conference proceedings. He is an active peer reviewer for the Journal of Composite Materials, Polymer Composites, Materials Research Express, and the Journal of Natural fibres.
Dr. Senthilkumar Krishnasamy is an Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. He previously worked in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (KARE), India, from 2010 to 2018 (October). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Anna University, Chennai in 2005. He then chose to continue his master's studies and graduated with a master's degree in CAD/CAM from Anna University, Tirunelveli, in 2009. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering – Kalasalingam University in 2016. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia and King Mongkut's University of Technology (KMUTNB) North Bangkok under the research topics of experimental investigations on mechanical, morphological, thermal and structural properties of kenaf fiber/mat epoxy composites and sisal composites/ and fabrication of eco-friendly hybrid green composi