Multifunctional PLA-PHB/cellulose nanocrystal films: processing, structural and thermal properties.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) synthesized from microcrystalline cellulose by acid hydrolysis were added into poly(lactic acid)-poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB) blends to improve the final properties of the multifunctional systems. CNC were also modified with a surfactant (CNCs) to increase the interfacial adhesion in the systems maintaining the thermal stability. Firstly, masterbatch pellets were obtained for each formulation to improve the dispersion of the cellulose structures in the PLA-PHB and then nanocomposite films were processed. The thermal stability as well as the morphological and structural properties of nanocomposites was investigated. While PHB increased the PLA crystallinity due to its nucleation effect, well dispersed CNC and CNCs not only increased the crystallinity but also improved the processability, the thermal stability and the interaction between both polymers especially in the case of the modified CNCs based PLA-PHB formulation. Likewise, CNCs were better dispersed in PLA-CNCs and PLA-PHB-CNCs, than CNC.
Instituto de Tecnología de Materiales, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, 03801 Alcoy-Alicante, Spain; Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
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Arrieta
Materials Engineering Centre, UdR INSTM, NIPLAB, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy. Electronic address: elena.fortunati@unipg.it.
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Fortunati
Materials Engineering Centre, UdR INSTM, NIPLAB, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy.
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Dominici
Instituto de Tecnología de Materiales, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, E-46022 Valencia, Spain.
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Rayón
Instituto de Tecnología de Materiales, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, 03801 Alcoy-Alicante, Spain.
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López
Materials Engineering Centre, UdR INSTM, NIPLAB, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy; Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, Madrid 28006, Spain.
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Kenny
D000268:Adhesiveness; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006868:Hydrolysis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C107955:poly(4-hydroxybutanoate); D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose
Blends; Cellulose nanocrystals; Film processing; Nanocomposites; Poly(hydroxybutyrate); Poly(lactic acid); Thermal properties