Publication Date
2-6-2026
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Polymers
Volume
18
Issue
3
DOI
10.3390/polym18030424
Abstract
This study investigated the properties of red algae (RA) biocomposite films reinforced with natural sisal fibers and plasticized with glycerol. The polymer was extracted from locally sourced red seaweed and combined sisal fibers at varying fiber loadings (0–45 wt%) using the doctor blading technique. Composite films were analyzed using a variety of methods to evaluate the chemical composition, thermal behavior and mechanical performance. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of kappa-carrageenan as the dominant polysaccharide in the RA matrix, whereas elemental analysis verified the dilution of sulfur content and enrichment of carbon with increasing fiber incorporation. Thermal stability increased with fiber loading, peaking at 30 wt% sisal fiber before decreasing slightly at 45 wt% due to poor fiber dispersion. Mechanical testing demonstrated an optimal balance between strength and flexibility at 30 wt% sisal fiber, with a 37% increase in strength compared to the pure RA film. Overall, the findings demonstrate that sisal fiber reinforcement enhances the structural integrity and stability of RA-based films, supporting their potential as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Keywords
biocomposite, doctor blading, kappa-carrageenan, mechanical analysis, red algae polymer, sisal fibers, thermal analysis
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Recommended Citation
Matthew Richards, Joshua Baird, Noah Serda, Vuong Do, and Yanika Schneider. "Development of Sustainable Red Algae–Sisal Fiber Composite Films via Doctor Blading" Polymers (2026). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18030424
