Fabrication and characterization of a novel cow dung-polymer composite packaging film

We have prepared a novel polymer composite film consisting of cow dung fibers and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) using a hand lay-up method. We have used standard ASTM methods for thermal and mechanical characterization of the fabricated film. Different cow dung fiber proportions were examined for optimum flexural, tensile strength and hardness of the composite film. The thermal conductivity of the film is also determined at different proportions of cow dung fiber. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) revealed the structure-property relationship. It was found that the alkali treated cow-dung-fiber-composite-film (CDFC) was having increased bounding and reduced fiber pullout resulting superior mechanical properties. The work suggests a suitable use for the large volume of cow dung produced.