title: Amorphized cellulose as filler in biocomposites based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone).
abstract: Amorphous cellulose particles, obtained through a solvent-free mechano-chemical process, have been tested for the first time as a potential filler for biodegradable composites based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL). Commercial cellulose fibers have been also tested for comparison. An effective interfacial strategy based on a compatibilizing agent, a modified PCL, has been used to improve the polymer/filler interfacial adhesion. Composites have been tested through physico-mechanical characterizations and soil burial degradation tests, in order to evaluate the influence of cellulose structure and morphology and polymer/filler interfacial adhesion on the final properties of the realized materials. The use of the amorphous cellulose particles combined with the presence of a suitable interfacial agent has allowed to modulate relevant technological properties of the realized composites, such as tensile and thermal properties, water absorption, water vapor transmission rate and biodegradation kinetic.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocca
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avolio
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy. Electronic address: gennaro.gentile@ictp.cnr.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Pace
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Errico
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avella
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D011108:Polymers; C121056:caprolactone; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Biocomposites; Cellulose; Filler; PCL; Structure