The Effect of Hybrid Polylactic Acid/Wood/Carbon Composite Material on Mechanical and Thermal Properties for Drone Structure

Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainable materials in aerospace and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications drives research into biodegradable composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties. When exploring biodegradable material to promote sustainability in this field, it is found that conventional Polylactic Acid (PLA) suffers from brittleness and limited thermal stability, restricting its use in structural components. Thus, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of a hybrid of PLA/Wood/Carbon Fiber composite material on mechanical and thermal properties for drone structures. Mechanical testing under tensile and flexural loading was conducted, while Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to assess thermal stability and microstructural morphology. Results showed that PLA+Carbon Fiber (CF) achieved the highest tensile strength of 58.2 MPa and flexural modulus of 2.45 GPa, compared to PLA (51.4 MPa, 1.92 GPa) and PLA+Wood (46.7 MPa, 1.65 GPa). Thermal analysis revealed distinct degradation profiles, with PLA undergoing near-complete mass loss (−97.99% at 600°C), PLA+Wood retaining 14% residual mass, and PLA+CF exhibiting superior stability with 35% residual mass. In conclusion, PLA+CF demonstrated the most promising mechanical and thermal performance for UAV applications requiring rigidity and durability. All samples for experimental testing have been fabricated using 3D printing.