Utilizing the Potential of Waste Hemp Reinforcement: Investigating Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polypropylene and Polylactic Acid Biocomposites

Abstract

Hemp has gained significant popularity for its diverse applications; however, this study explores the untapped potential of waste hemp (wH) as a cost-effective and sustainable bioadditive for the development of high-performance biocomposites. wH offers advantages such as low cost, easy availability, and suitability for extrusion. Polypropylene (PP) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) served as polymer matrices for this investigation. In order to enhance the interaction between the wH and polymer matrices, alkaline and silane pretreatments were applied to the wHs of both matrices. At the same time, the MA-g-PP additive was used exclusively for the PP matrix. The resulting PP biocomposite demonstrated Young's modulus (2986 MPa) and flexural modulus (2490 MPa), surpassing those of neat PP by 109 and 77%, respectively. Similarly, wH40-PLA-A showed enhancements in the PLA biocomposite, with Young's modulus (6214 MPa) and flexural modulus (5970 MPa) representing an increase of 81 and 56% over that of neat PLA, respectively. The thermal properties and behaviors of the resulting biocomposites were minimally affected by the inclusion of wH as a bioadditive. This study contributes to the advancement of sustainable materials and provides valuable insights into the utilization of wH as a valuable resource for the development of high-performance biocomposites.