The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Flame Retardancy, Thermal Stability, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the PLA/Maize Stalk Composites

L. Magunga; T. G. Mofokeng; M. T. Motloung; P. Ncube; M. J. Mochane

doi:10.1007/s12221-025-01077-x

The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Flame Retardancy, Thermal Stability, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the PLA/Maize Stalk Composites

L. Magunga, T. G. Mofokeng, M. T. Motloung, P. Ncube, M. J. Mochane^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study focused at exploring the feasibility of using calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer for polylactic acid/maize stalk fiber (PLA/MSF) composites. The effect of CaCO₃ on the flammability, thermal, and rheological properties of the PLA/MSF composite was investigated. The hybrid composites PLA/CaCO₃/MSF were prepared using CaCO₃, and pulverized PLA and MSF. The CaCO₃ composition was kept at 5wt.%, while the MSF was varied from 10 to 20 wt.%. By utilizing various characterization techniques, the surface/structural properties of the hybrid composites were analyzed. The results indicated that incorporating CaCO₃ enhanced the dispersion of fibers in the 85/5/10 PLA/CaCO₃/MSF and 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO₃/MSF composites, irrespective of the fiber content. The hybrid systems demonstrated a reduction in pHRR peaks, ranging from 130 to 148 kW/m², in contrast to the observed range of 555 to 697 kW/m² for the neat PLA, PLA/MSF, and PLA/CaCO₃ composites. In addition, the hybrid composites recorded lower THR values compared to pure PLA and the binary composites. The 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO₃/MSF exhibited the highest storage modulus, whereas increased complex viscosity and G’’ were observed at higher fiber loading (20 wt.%). Calcium carbonate content raised the degradation temperature of the 95/5 PLA/CaCO₃ composite in comparison to neat PLA. In contrast, higher loading of MSF (20 wt.%) had an opposite effect on the PLA/CaCO₃ composites. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of CaCO₃ as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer in PLA/maize stalk composites.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3889-3897
Number of pages	9
Journal	Fibers and Polymers
Volume	26
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-025-01077-x
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Calcium carbonate
Compatibilization
Hybrid composites
Maize stalk fiber
Reinforcement

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10.1007/s12221-025-01077-x

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title = "The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Flame Retardancy, Thermal Stability, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the PLA/Maize Stalk Composites",

abstract = "This study focused at exploring the feasibility of using calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer for polylactic acid/maize stalk fiber (PLA/MSF) composites. The effect of CaCO3 on the flammability, thermal, and rheological properties of the PLA/MSF composite was investigated. The hybrid composites PLA/CaCO3/MSF were prepared using CaCO3, and pulverized PLA and MSF. The CaCO3 composition was kept at 5wt.\%, while the MSF was varied from 10 to 20 wt.\%. By utilizing various characterization techniques, the surface/structural properties of the hybrid composites were analyzed. The results indicated that incorporating CaCO3 enhanced the dispersion of fibers in the 85/5/10 PLA/CaCO3/MSF and 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF composites, irrespective of the fiber content. The hybrid systems demonstrated a reduction in pHRR peaks, ranging from 130 to 148 kW/m2, in contrast to the observed range of 555 to 697 kW/m2 for the neat PLA, PLA/MSF, and PLA/CaCO3 composites. In addition, the hybrid composites recorded lower THR values compared to pure PLA and the binary composites. The 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF exhibited the highest storage modulus, whereas increased complex viscosity and G{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} were observed at higher fiber loading (20 wt.\%). Calcium carbonate content raised the degradation temperature of the 95/5 PLA/CaCO3 composite in comparison to neat PLA. In contrast, higher loading of MSF (20 wt.\%) had an opposite effect on the PLA/CaCO3 composites. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of CaCO3 as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer in PLA/maize stalk composites.",

keywords = "Calcium carbonate, Compatibilization, Hybrid composites, Maize stalk fiber, Reinforcement",

author = "L. Magunga and Mofokeng, \{T. G.\} and Motloung, \{M. T.\} and P. Ncube and Mochane, \{M. J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1007/s12221-025-01077-x",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

pages = "3889--3897",

journal = "Fibers and Polymers",

issn = "1229-9197",

publisher = "KOREAN FIBER SOCIETY",

number = "9",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Flame Retardancy, Thermal Stability, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the PLA/Maize Stalk Composites

AU - Magunga, L.

AU - Mofokeng, T. G.

AU - Motloung, M. T.

AU - Ncube, P.

AU - Mochane, M. J.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - This study focused at exploring the feasibility of using calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer for polylactic acid/maize stalk fiber (PLA/MSF) composites. The effect of CaCO3 on the flammability, thermal, and rheological properties of the PLA/MSF composite was investigated. The hybrid composites PLA/CaCO3/MSF were prepared using CaCO3, and pulverized PLA and MSF. The CaCO3 composition was kept at 5wt.%, while the MSF was varied from 10 to 20 wt.%. By utilizing various characterization techniques, the surface/structural properties of the hybrid composites were analyzed. The results indicated that incorporating CaCO3 enhanced the dispersion of fibers in the 85/5/10 PLA/CaCO3/MSF and 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF composites, irrespective of the fiber content. The hybrid systems demonstrated a reduction in pHRR peaks, ranging from 130 to 148 kW/m2, in contrast to the observed range of 555 to 697 kW/m2 for the neat PLA, PLA/MSF, and PLA/CaCO3 composites. In addition, the hybrid composites recorded lower THR values compared to pure PLA and the binary composites. The 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF exhibited the highest storage modulus, whereas increased complex viscosity and G’’ were observed at higher fiber loading (20 wt.%). Calcium carbonate content raised the degradation temperature of the 95/5 PLA/CaCO3 composite in comparison to neat PLA. In contrast, higher loading of MSF (20 wt.%) had an opposite effect on the PLA/CaCO3 composites. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of CaCO3 as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer in PLA/maize stalk composites.

AB - This study focused at exploring the feasibility of using calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer for polylactic acid/maize stalk fiber (PLA/MSF) composites. The effect of CaCO3 on the flammability, thermal, and rheological properties of the PLA/MSF composite was investigated. The hybrid composites PLA/CaCO3/MSF were prepared using CaCO3, and pulverized PLA and MSF. The CaCO3 composition was kept at 5wt.%, while the MSF was varied from 10 to 20 wt.%. By utilizing various characterization techniques, the surface/structural properties of the hybrid composites were analyzed. The results indicated that incorporating CaCO3 enhanced the dispersion of fibers in the 85/5/10 PLA/CaCO3/MSF and 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF composites, irrespective of the fiber content. The hybrid systems demonstrated a reduction in pHRR peaks, ranging from 130 to 148 kW/m2, in contrast to the observed range of 555 to 697 kW/m2 for the neat PLA, PLA/MSF, and PLA/CaCO3 composites. In addition, the hybrid composites recorded lower THR values compared to pure PLA and the binary composites. The 75/5/20 PLA/CaCO3/MSF exhibited the highest storage modulus, whereas increased complex viscosity and G’’ were observed at higher fiber loading (20 wt.%). Calcium carbonate content raised the degradation temperature of the 95/5 PLA/CaCO3 composite in comparison to neat PLA. In contrast, higher loading of MSF (20 wt.%) had an opposite effect on the PLA/CaCO3 composites. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of CaCO3 as a reinforcing filler and compatibilizer in PLA/maize stalk composites.

KW - Calcium carbonate

KW - Compatibilization

KW - Hybrid composites

KW - Maize stalk fiber

KW - Reinforcement

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010674657

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DO - 10.1007/s12221-025-01077-x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105010674657

SN - 1229-9197

VL - 26

SP - 3889

EP - 3897

JO - Fibers and Polymers

JF - Fibers and Polymers

IS - 9

ER -

The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Flame Retardancy, Thermal Stability, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the PLA/Maize Stalk Composites

Abstract

Keywords

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