Evaluation of cotton byproducts as fillers for poly(lactic acid) and low density polyethylene

Polymeric composites based on cotton burr and cottonseed bull have been prepared by melt blending and extrusion. For poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), addition of the fillers slightly changed the composite's thermal properties but significantly decreased the composite's mechanical properties. Heat treatment prior to extrusion resulted in composites with better tensile strength and Young's modulus. The use of maleic anhydride and peroxide only slightly improved the physical properties of the LDPE materials, but the effect was less clear for the PLA materials. The PLA-filler composites may be useful for lowering the cost of the materials in applications that can tolerate the decreased properties. In addition, the addition of fillers to LDPE might be beneficial in applications to improve stiffness or to improve biodegradability.

► Cotton burr and cottonseed hull are biodegradable, low-cost cotton byproducts.
► They can be used as fillers in polymers to lower cost.
► The addition of these fillers to low density polyethylene improves stiffness and biodegradability.
► These fillers also lower the cost in poly(lactic acid) composites for applications that can tolerate somewhat decreased properties.