Hybrid Agro-Waste Reinforced PLA Smart Composites with Embedded NFC for Sustainable Lifecycle Monitoring

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable engineering materials has accelerated the development of biodegradable polymer composites capable of combining structural performance with intelligent lifecycle management. In this study, a smart biodegradable agro-waste polymer composite reinforced with rice husk and sugarcane bagasse fibers were developed using a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix integrated with an embedded passive Near Field Communication (NFC) tag for digital traceability and circular economy applications. The composite containing 80 wt.% PLA, 15 wt.% hybrid agro-waste reinforcement and 5 wt.% PLA-g-MA compatibilizer was fabricated through twin-screw extrusion followed by compression molding. SEM analysis confirmed uniform fiber dispersion and strong fiber–matrix bonding. Tensile strength increased from 58 MPa to 74 MPa, while flexural strength improved from 82 MPa to 106 MPa, representing enhancements of 27.6% and 29.3%, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated improved thermal stability through delayed degradation and higher residual char formation. Controlled composting showed progressive biodegradation, with the hybrid NFC-integrated composite achieving approximately 47.5% weight loss after 56 days compared with 19% for neat PLA. The embedded passive NFC tag maintained reliable functionality without affecting structural integrity or biodegradation behavior. The developed smart biodegradable composite successfully combines enhanced mechanical performance, thermal stability, controlled biodegradability and digital lifecycle tracking, demonstrating strong potential for sustainable packaging, agricultural products, consumer goods and other environmentally responsible circular economy applications while supporting efficient product identification, recycling, resource recovery initiatives globally.