Sustainable Multifunctional Magnetic Wood Polymeric Nanocomposites—From Materials Development to Life Cycle Analysis

This work introduces magnetic wood polymeric composites (MWPC) based on poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) polymer, with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) of Fe₃O₄ (magnetite). The selected wood corresponds to Pinus oocarpa microparticles (POM). The integration of wood into polymeric composites represents a sustainable and versatile approach to material engineering; specifically, the Pinus oocarpa can act as a reinforcement in polymeric composites. Using PLLA offers a range of mechanical, environmental, and functional advantages, while Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles offer magnetic functionality. In this study, the concentration of the PLLA and the POM plus the Fe₃O₄-MNPs corresponds to 40 and 60 wt% concentration, respectively. The MWPC were characterized by their morphological, structural, chemical, thermal, electrical, dielectric, mechanical, and magnetic properties. The XRD shows an enhancement in the PLLA crystallinity with the inclusion of both fillers. The electrical conductivity and dielectric responses are not altered with the presence of wood microparticles (POM); while the presence of MNPs at high concentrations leads to an increase in electrical conductivity. The mechanical properties of the MWPC strongly depend on the ratio of POM/Fe₃O₄-MNPs, in the MWPC. POM reinforces the stiffness of the material, while the increasing content of Fe₃O₄ makes the material more resistant to a load. The magnetic response increases proportional to the MNP content. A life cycle analysis (LCA) was performed to understand the manufacturing production of the MWPC. The results showed that the MWPC are promising in functionalizing polymer-based composites, which can be suitable for advanced applications in electronics, biomedicine, environmental technologies, and structural materials.