Corn Husk Fiber–Reinforced PLA Biocomposites: Mechanical, Thermal, and Biodegradation Performance

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Kedri Janardhana,

  • K. Arun,

  • S. Titus,

  • Sultanuddin SJ,

  • P. S. Latha Mageshwari,

  • A.Shanmugam,

  • Sekar K,

  • Pawan Kumar Jaiswal,

  • J. Revathi,

  1. Assistant Professor (Selection Grade), Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed to be University), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Science and Humanities, Jeppiaar Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Cyber Security, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Professor, Department of Science and Humanities (Physics), R.M.K. Engineering College, Kavaraipettai, Tamil Nadu, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  7. Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Adithya Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  8. Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Bihar, India
  9. Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Mohan Babu University (MBU), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The increasing environmental burden caused by conventional petroleum-based plastics has driven significant interest in the development of sustainable polymer composites reinforced with renewable natural fibers. In the present work, corn husk fiber (CHF), an agricultural waste by-product, was utilized as a reinforcing phase in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix to fabricate eco-friendly biocomposites. Composite samples with varying fiber loadings (0–40 wt.%) were produced through twin-screw melt blending followed by compression molding. The influence of fiber incorporation on mechanical, thermal, morphological, and biodegradation characteristics was systematically evaluated. The results indicate a notable enhancement in mechanical performance, with tensile strength increasing from 48 MPa for neat PLA to 63 MPa at 30 wt.% CHF, corresponding to an improvement of approximately 31%. A similar trend was observed in stiffness, where the Young’s modulus increased from 2.9 GPa to 4.7 GPa. Flexural strength also improved significantly, reaching 94 MPa at optimal fiber loading. At higher fiber content (40 wt.%), a marginal decline in strength was observed, which is attributed to fiber agglomeration and the formation of microstructural defects. Thermal analysis revealed improved stability, with an increase in both onset and peak degradation temperatures. Furthermore, soil burial studies confirmed accelerated biodegradation with increasing fiber content. These findings demonstrate that CHF-reinforced PLA composites offer a promising pathway toward sustainable materials with balanced mechanical performance and environmental compatibility.

Keywords: Corn husk fiber, Polylactic acid, Tensile strength, composite, Biodegradability

How to cite this article:
Kedri Janardhana, K. Arun, S. Titus, Sultanuddin SJ, P. S. Latha Mageshwari, A.Shanmugam, Sekar K, Pawan Kumar Jaiswal, J. Revathi. Corn Husk Fiber–Reinforced PLA Biocomposites: Mechanical, Thermal, and Biodegradation Performance. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Kedri Janardhana, K. Arun, S. Titus, Sultanuddin SJ, P. S. Latha Mageshwari, A.Shanmugam, Sekar K, Pawan Kumar Jaiswal, J. Revathi. Corn Husk Fiber–Reinforced PLA Biocomposites: Mechanical, Thermal, and Biodegradation Performance. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=240203


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
02
Received 13/03/2026
Accepted 03/04/2026
Published 17/04/2026
Publication Time 35 Days
24

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