Thermoplastic Starch Resin-Based Formulation and Natural Fibre Reinforced Biodegradable Flexible Composite Incorporating Said Formulation and Preparation There of

Background/Problem Description:

The increasing environmental concerns associated with synthetic, non-biodegradable plastics have led to a growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Natural fibres such as jute and wool, which are renewable, biodegradable and abundantly available, have emerged as promising reinforcement materials for bio-composite development. Researchers have explored the use of biodegradable polymer matrices such as thermoplastic starch, polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to produce environmentally friendly composite structures. In many cases, vegetable fibres like banana and bagasse have been utilized to develop biodegradable films and composite materials. However, the full potential of jute and other natural fibres in biodegradable composite systems has not been sufficiently explored, particularly in terms of optimizing their reinforcement performance and developing sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic-based materials. Despite the abundance of natural fibers like banana, bagasse, and jute, their integration into durable, water-resistant and commercially viable films remains a challenge. Most existing biodegradable matrices suffer from poor moisture sensitivity and mechanical limitations. There is a critical need to optimize the interface between natural fiber reinforcements and biodegradable resins to produce a robust alternative that can replace conventional plastics without compromising structural integrity.

Technology Details:

1. An eco-friendly thermoplastic starch (TPS) resin-based formulation comprising lignocellulosic fibre based pulp thickened gelatinized starch solution is provided as polymer matrices suitable for natural fibre reinforced biodegradable flexible composite material of the invention.
2. A natural fibre reinforced biodegradable flexible composite material comprising said thermoplastic starch (TPS) resin-based formulation-impregnated natural fibre-based structure is thus developed.
3. A process of fabrication of the natural fibre reinforced biodegradable flexible composite material incorporating said thermoplastic starch (TPS) resin-based formulation as polymer matrix and reinforced by select surface modified natural fibre is also provided.
4. The prepared fully biodegradable and environment-friendly flexible composite material shows durability with high tensile strength (up to 50 MPa) and excellent folding endurance (up to 20,000 cycles).
5. Use of surface modified fibre structure improves bonding with TPS and improves mechanical properties.
6. The prepared composite material incorporates a water-resistant coating using elastomeric polymer and hydrophobic softening emulsion, for retaining water droplets for up to 4 hours.
7. The prepared natural fibre reinforced biodegradable flexible composite material offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic flexible composites.