Biocomposites Films Based on Polylactic Acid and Olive Wood-Flour: Investigation on Physical, Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Considerable interest has been shown in the development of biocomposite films for food packaging in recent years. In this study, biocomposite films based on polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared with varying levels of olive wood flour (OWF) (0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt%) using the solvent casting method. To achieve better dispersion, 2% ethanol was added during the casting of the biocomposite films. The effect of OWF content on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the PLA films was investigated. Interaction between the OWF cellulose and the PLA matrix was revealed by FTIR spectroscopy analysis, and the addition of ethanol was found to be suitable for better dispersion of OWF, which resulted in decreased agglomeration rate in the biocomposites. The biocomposite films with the addition of 1% of OWF (OW1) exhibited the best dispersion, thermal stability, and tensile strength, with a gain of 31.07% (29.65 +/- 6.6 MPa) and an increase in Young's modulus of 15% (1199.18 +/- 98 MPa). It was demonstrated that the properties of the PLA/OWF biocomposites make them suitable for green applications, including as film packaging for food products.