Optimum formulation design of PBS/Glochids biocomposites for agri-food applications

The increase in consumption of fossil-based plastics shifts the focus to sustainable products such as biopolymers, which are fully competitive for certain market demands. However, some performance shortcomings in terms of tensile strength, as well as other factors, are among the main drawbacks that limit the widespread applications. A solution already implemented in various fields of engineering is the development of biocomposites with enhanced properties, particularly by using natural fibers and waste materials as reinforcement, to promote their sustainability. The challenge lies in achieving an optimal balance between the physical properties and the composition of the biocomposites. Aim of this work was the use of the software JMP Pro 18 with Design of Experiment approach to design and generate an optimum formulation of fully renewable biocomposites based on PBS (polybutylene succinate) and fibers derived from agri-food waste, in particular, the glochids (G) of Opuntia ficus-indica fruits. The software was used to maximize the Young's modulus and maintain the elongation at break at an acceptable value, of around 18%. Then the software was used to evaluate the effect of recycle on the same properties to evaluate the prediction’s power.