Table 2.
Mechanical properties PLA and PHA composites with different reinforcing fillers (CNC and MF). Same letters (a, b, or c) mean there is no statistical difference among the composites with the same matrix.
| n = 5 | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Young’s Modulus (GPa) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avr. | COV | Avr. | COV | Avr. | COV | |
| PHA | 20.2 c | 0.07 | 4.47 b | 0.06 | 0.54 c | 0.12 |
| PHA + 1% CNC | 22.5 a,b,c | 0.02 | 10.43 a | 0.23 | 0.72 b | 0.02 |
| PHA + 2% CNC | 22.6 a,b,c | 0.06 | 5.85 b | 0.13 | 0.81 a,b | 0.06 |
| PHA + 3% CNC | 22.2 b,c | 0.03 | 5.95 b | 0.25 | 0.81 a,b | 0.05 |
| PHA + 10% MF | 23.5 a,b | 0.03 | 4.33 b | 0.10 | 0.81 a,b | 0.03 |
| PHA + 20% MF | 24.9 a | 0.05 | 3.78 b | 0.11 | 0.94 a | 0.14 |
| PHA + 30% MF | 23.0 a,b | 0.06 | 3.93 b | 0.04 | 0.93 a | 0.06 |
| PLA | 52.3 b,c | 0.02 | 3.86 a | 0.13 | 1.95 b,c | 0.05 |
| PLA + 1% CNC | 72.9 a | 0.05 | 4.02 a | 0.12 | 2.12 a,b,c | 0.07 |
| PLA + 2% CNC | 68.6 a | 0.06 | 3.51 a | 0.10 | 2.05 a,b,c | 0.03 |
| PLA + 3% CNC | 65.5 a | 0.06 | 3.54 a | 0.13 | 1.92 c | 0.03 |
| PLA + 10% MF | 55.2 b | 0.02 | 2.00 b | 0.16 | 2.28 a,b | 0.10 |
| PLA + 20% MF | 65.2 a | 0.05 | 3.38 a | 0.04 | 2.39 a | 0.09 |
| PLA + 30% MF | 47.0 c | 0.12 | 2.37 b | 0.12 | 2.36 a | 0.07 |
| MF | Fiber length | 841 ± 71 μm | ||||
| CNC | ≈75 nm | |||||