Evaluate the Performance of Biodegradable Composites Made from Lime and Mango Peel

Imereoma Frank Uchendu¹, Godson Chijioke Akaninwor², Gershon Nna³

^1,2,3 Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in environmental issues associated with plastics has escalated the search for alternatives that are biodegradable and sustainable. The focus of this study is on the development and comprehensive performance evaluation of novel composite materials that are biodegradable, derived from agricultural waste, specifically lime peel (LP) and mango peel (MP) as reinforcing fillers within a biodegradable polymer matrix. The objective was to access these abundant fruit residues into value-added materials with functional properties that are viable. Key performance metrics, including tensile strength, flexural modulus, water absorption, thermal stability, and soil burial degradation rate, were investigated. The composite formulations ranged from 100% mango to 100% lime, with intermediate ratios of 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75. The mechanical tests showed that the composite film with a 50:50 mango–lime peel ratio demonstrated the highest tensile strength, recording a value of 11.21 MPa. This suggested enhanced interfacial bonding and structural integrity compared to other ratios. Water absorption analysis indicated that the 50:50 composite also showed the lowest water uptake, at 26.8%, indicating superior moisture resistance. Overall, the study found that the 50:50 mango–lime composite provided the most balanced performance across all tested parameters. It combined relatively high tensile strength with good flexibility, offered reduced water absorption, exhibited superior thermal resistance, and degraded efficiently under natural conditions. These findings highlight the potential of mango–lime biodegradable composites, especially the mid-ratio formulations, for sustainable applications in environmentally sensitive packaging solutions.    

Keywords: Mango, Lime, Water absorption, Composites, Mechanical test, Biodegradable, Thermal stability, Degradation

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