Biodegradability assessment of corn stover reinforced composite materials with different matrix

Abstract

In this paper, the biodegradability of three SferiCorn™ biocomposites was investigated. Corn stover prepared through eco-friendly washing and grinding to short fibers was used as reinforcement. Three different biopolymers, corn starch, alginate and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), were used as matrices. The biodegradability of prepared composites was investigated in a simulated soil burial test and the samples were characterized in terms of weight loss and morphological changes. It was shown that biodegradability can be tuned by biopolymers used as matrices. Changes in the surface morphology after biodegradation of tested samples were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).