A study on thermal degradation kinetics and flammability properties of poly(lactic acid)/banana fiber/nanoclay hybrid bionanocomposites

The current research focuses on the degradation kinetics of fully bio‐based hybrid bionanocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), utilizing banana fiber and nanoclay as reinforcing fillers. The bionanocomposites were prepared using melt blending technique followed by injection molding. The reinforcing effect of silane treated banana fiber (SiB) and Closite 30B (C30B) nanoclay on the thermal stability and fire retardancy of PLA has been studied. Isoconversional kinetic analysis using Friedman and Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa method as well as analysis based on parameters at the maximum degradation rate (Kissinger method) were employed to understand the thermal degradation kinetics in the bionanocomposites. The results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that bionanocomposites have improved thermal stability. The UL‐94 horizontal burning test and cone calorimetry have been used to screen the flammability performance of PLA and its biocomposites as well as bionanocomposites. The results revealed that the incorporation of SiB and C30B nanoclay improved fire retardancy. Further, the structural characterization has been carried out using FTIR. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2067–2079, 2017.