Morphological, physical, thermal, and mechanical properties with the aspect ratio effects of bio loose-fill packaging from corn stalk

Protective packaging, such as loose-fill material, is commonly used for void filling in packages during transportation and handling. Due to environment concerns about packaging materials, alternative materials derived from agricultural residues, such as corn stalks (CS), are of attention. Dried internodal CS without rind (DCS(-R)) were prepared as a cylindrical-shaped bio loose-fill packaging pieces (DCS(-R)P) at three different aspect ratios [length/diameter (L/D) of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2]. The morphological, physical, and thermal properties of the DCS(-R)P were investigated and the effect of the L/D ratio of the DCS(-R)P was examined under compression loading. The DCS(-R)P exhibited a porous structure with a low density and bulk density, while the packing efficiency at all L/D ratios was less than 1. Different compressive resistance and failure patterns of the DCS(-R)P were obtained, depending on the direction of compression loading (parallel and perpendicular) to the DCS(-R)P. In addition, the L/D ratio of bulk DCS(-R)P also affected the compressive resistance. The results of this study provide important information for future investigations on the protective ability of DCS(-R)P to the products inside the packages during transportation and handling.