Influence of glass fiber on the interface and performance of PLA/PBAT composites

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) are commonly applied in food packaging and biomedicine fields; their practical utility is limited by poor interfacial adhesion. In this article, the interface and performance of glass fibers (GFs) with different particle sizes on PLA/PBAT composites were investigated. The GF/PLA/PBAT composites were prepared by injection molding, and comprehensively characterized through assessments of physical properties (water resistance and hardness), mechanical properties (flexural and tensile resistance), microstructure analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectra analysis. The results demonstrated that the interface and structural strength of PLA/PBAT composites were enhanced due to the addition of GF. Improved tighter fiber-matrix adhesion led to superior overall performance, water resistance and deformation resistance ability of composites were enhanced, these changes can be directly visualized via scanning electron microscopy images. Notably, the tensile strength of GF/PLA/PBAT composites was improved by 18.5% than before. These findings indicate that GFs with an appropriate particle size can effectively enhance both interfacial compatibility and comprehensive performance, thereby broadening the potential application scope of PLA/PBAT-based composites.
The water absorption rate of composites increases with the addition of GFs.
GF effectively improves the mechanical properties of composites.
The interfacial bonding strength has increased due to the holes being filled with GFs.
The ultimate performance improvement depends on a better interface.