Maleic anhydride powder

The methodology of the current study was carried out through two stages. The first stage was for testing different percentage combinations of glass fiber/PP (GF/PP) thermoplastic fibers braiding. Materials specification of this stage are mentioned in Table 1. Three main materials categories were used: E-GF treated with starch (ECE225, and count of “22 Tex”) and thermoplastic yarns of polypropylene (PP) with a count of 300 denier, all of which were donated by AGY industries, located in the Aiken, SC, USA. The third category was two types of chemical agents for better coupling and adhesion between two matrices as: Maleic anhydride powder with 99% concentration and tri-methoxysilyl propyl methacrylate with 98% concentration, both purchased from Sigma Aldrich, Steinheim am Albuch, Baden-Württemberg, (Germany), for treating PP yarns and GF surfaces, respectively.

PLA Ingeo 3251D, with a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 47.4 kg/mol, a glass transition temperature of 57 °C and a melting point of 180 °C, was purchased from NatureWorks^® LLC (Minnetonka, MN, USA). Cellulose microfibers, with an average length of 500 ± 35 µm, diameter of 12 ± 2 µm and average aspect ratio of L/D = 40 were used. They were obtained from Henequen (agave fourcroydes) fibers according to the method described by Cazaurang et al. [43 ] and conditioned according to the method described in [44 (link)]. The lyophilized cellulose nanocrystals were acquired from the University of MAINE, with 0.94% by weight of sulfur on a dry basis and were used as received. They were produced by acid hydrolysis of the wood pulp with an H₂SO₄ solution (64% w/w) and had an average length of 296 ± 10 nm, an average diameter of 21.4 ± 2 nm and an average aspect ratio (L/D) of 14 [45 (link)]. The maleic anhydride powder 95% from Sigma-Aldrich was used as the coupling agent. For the study of biodegradation, mature compost from CICY A.C “Unidad de Recursos Naturales” was used.