The influence of Spartium junceum L. fibres modified with montmorrilonite nanoclay on the thermal properties of PLA biocomposites

Biocomposites were prepared by reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) with randomly oriented, short Spartium junceum L. fibres. Prior to the composite production, the fibres were treated with montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT) in order to increase biocomposites resistance to the fire. Characterizations of the biocomposites in the presence and absence of MMT and Citric acid (CA) were performed by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Microscale Combustion Calorimetry (MCC). The results indicated that biocomposites reinforced with fibres modified with MMT enhanced some of its thermal properties. Degradation level of residual fibres (char) after the TGA treatment at 800 °C was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The work provided us with the idea of using MMT in the presence of CA as a crosslinker in biocomposites for possible applications.