Tensile Behavior of Injection-Molded PLA Composites Reinforced with Turkey Feather Fibers at Different Loadings

OpenAlex İngilizce

This study investigates the development and mechanical performance of environmentally friendly polylactic acid (PLA)-based biocomposites reinforced with turkey feather fibers (TFFs) at different weight fractions (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt.%). The primary aim is to evaluate the potential of poultry waste-derived keratin fibers as sustainable reinforcements for lightweight engineering materials. TFFs were extracted, purified, and incorporated into the PLA matrix via melt mixing followed by injection molding. The mechanical behavior of the resulting composites was assessed through tensile testing, focusing on maximum load, elongation at break, and maximum displacement. The results obtained revealed that the incorporation of TFFs significantly influenced the mechanical properties of PLA matrix. While pure PLA exhibited the highest tensile strength and deformation capability, the addition of fibers generally reduced mechanical performance. Among all the samples, the 3 wt.%-reinforced TFF composite displayed the best balance of mechanical properties, exhibiting the highest tensile load and relatively improved ductility compared to other fiber loadings. However, further increases in fiber content led to a progressive deterioration in tensile properties due to fiber agglomeration, insufficient fiber-matrix adhesion, and increased microstructural defects such as void formation and interfacial debonding. In conclusion, the experimental findings indicate that turkey feather fibers can be effectively utilized as low-cost, renewable reinforcement agents for PLA-based composites, contributing to waste valorization and sustainable material development. The study identifies an optimal fiber loading of approximately 3 wt.% for achieving a balance between mechanical performance and structural integrity, providing useful information for the design of green composite materials for lightweight engineering applications.