Extrusion of shrimp shell-polylactic acid composites: Dataset for the impact of surfactants on their morphology and thermal properties

Shrimp shell waste obtained from Louisiana Gulf shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) was heat-treated at varying temperatures and ground into a powder by ball-milling. The powder was used with and without surface treatment with maleic anhydride or stearic acid to form shrimp shell - polylactic acid (PLA) composite granules by solution processing and mechanical grinding. These granules were used as feedstock for the extrusion of composite filaments. The dataset shows the thermal properties of the shrimp shells and the presence of covalent bonding for surface treatment with maleic anhydride. The thermal properties of the composite granules and the influence of the use of surfactants on the morphology, density, and die swell of the extruded filaments are also collected to assess their use as a manufacturing material.