In this thesis, two systems of bio-based composites were developed and evaluated.
For PHA/DDGS composites, the main goal was to reduce the cost while maintaining their
useful properties. PHA/DDGS composites with 10%, 20% and 30% DDGS (by weight)
were uniformly mixed using a twin-screw extruder. Compared with neat PHA polymers,
the fracture surface morphology of the composites became rough, indicating that the
composites became more brittle with increasing DDGS content. Moreover, for PHA with
30% DDGS composite, a greater number of holes and small particles were observed,
indicating that adhesion between the two components became poorer when using a
higher-percentage filler. TGA results also indicated that the thermal degradation
temperature of the composites was shifted to a lower value, with Tonset decreasing from
276.34 °C to 263.53 °C for a DDGS change from 0% to 30%. However, this change was
relatively small and the resulting cost reduction could offset this thermal-stability
reduction. Other thermal properties were little affected by the addition of the DDGS. DSC
studies suggest that composite melting and crystalline temperatures decreased with the
DDGS content, indicating that PHA and DDGS favorably interacted with one other.
DMA tests also show that the glass transition temperature, storage modulus, and loss
modulus ranged over a very small temperature interval. Also, the melting theogram of the
samples clearly showed that complex viscosities G′ and G′′ were enhanced with an
increasing DDGS ratio, indicating that the DDGS enhanced the solid-like properties of
The degradation behavior of different stages was studied for PLA/DDGS
composites-based biodegradation systems. During a 24-week degradation test in soil
under landscape conditions, it was found that adding DDGS could significantly accelerate
the degradation rate. SEM morphology results showed that cracks and voids became more
clearly evident during this degradation process. DMA results also indicated that the
dynamic mechanical properties of this material were enhanced through incorporation of
DDGS. In addition, when combined with DSC tests, glass transition temperature changed
very slightly. Due to the chain loss and hydrolysis of the composites, DDGS degraded
faster than PLA, suggesting that the degree of crystallinity increased during the early state
of the degradation process. Furthermore, the thermal stability and melt viscosity also
decreased with increasing burial time in soil. In general, PLA with DDGS composites
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