Mechanical Properties and Crystallinity of Specific PLA/Cellulose Composites by Surface Modification of Nanofibrillated Cellulose

Hongzhe Chu; Zeyan Chen; Yongli Chen; Deling Wei; Yang Liu; Hui Zhao

doi:10.3390/polym16172474

Mechanical Properties and Crystallinity of Specific PLA/Cellulose Composites by Surface Modification of Nanofibrillated Cellulose

Polymers (Basel). 2024 Aug 30;16(17):2474. doi: 10.3390/polym16172474.

Authors

Hongzhe Chu¹, Zeyan Chen¹, Yongli Chen², Deling Wei², Yang Liu¹, Hui Zhao¹

Affiliations

¹ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
² School of Environmental and Life Science, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530100, China.

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) has inherent drawbacks, such as its amorphous structure, which affect its mechanical and barrier properties. The use of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) mixed with PLA for the production of composites has been chosen as a solution to the above problems. A PLA/NFC composite was produced by solution casting. Before use, the cellulose was modified using a silane coupling agent. The composite films were investigated via X-ray diffraction, as well as by mechanical, physical, thermal analyses and by differential scanning calorimeter. The crystallinity was four times that of pure PLA and the water vapor transmission rate decreased by 76.9% with the incorporation of 10 wt% of NFC. The tensile strength of PLA/NFC blend films increased by 98.8% with the incorporation of 5 wt% of NFC. The study demonstrates that the addition of NFC improved the properties of PLA. This provides a solid foundation for the enhancement of the performance of PLA products.

Keywords: composites; crystallinity; mechanical properties; nanofibrillated cellulose; polylactic acid.

Grants and funding

National Undergraduate Training Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (202310593073); Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Program (2020GXNSFBA159023); Opening Project of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Calcium Carbonate Resources Comprehensive Utilization (HZXYKFKT202204).