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Influence of surface-modified cellulose nanocrystal on the rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of PLA nanocomposites

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Abstract

Agave Tequilana Weber (ATW) is the base ingredient for preparing tequila liquor; tequila production yields tons of waste rich in cellulose representing environmental issues. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), the crystalline regions extracted from cellulose microcrystals, were obtained from the waste of ATW as an attractive alternative to reinforce polymeric materials. CNC were grafted with (poly (2-ethyl hexyl acrylate) to improve compatibility with hydrophobic polymers. The CNC pristine (CNCP) and grafted (CNCG) were dispersed in PLA (0.5, 1 and 2 wt.%), employing several melt processing stages. CNC distribution within PLA matrix was followed using SEM and TEM. Also, thermal properties were characterized through differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal stability of nanocomposites increased with CNC, CNCG nanocomposites showed better results (Td ~ 370 °C) than CNCP nanocomposites (Td ~ 366 °C). The degree of crystallinity showed for CNCG (25.1%) was higher than for CNCP (21.1%) nanocomposites. The tensile properties were improved with CNCP (0.44 MPa) and CNCG (2.11 MPa) content. The CNC increased the shear properties of PLA melt and exhibited a strain-hardening behavior during elongational rheology test. The CNC and CNCG are an interesting alternative to modify the melt rheological behavior and the mechanical behavior in the solid-state of low melt strength polymers, which could be thermally degraded during processing. Composites could be used to produce films for the food industry through blow-extrusion processing.

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Acknowledgements

The technical support from Santiago Duarte-Aranda (SEM) and Wilberth Herrera Kao (TGA and DSC) is highly appreciated. This study was partially financed by the project FOMIX-Yucatan CICY YUC-2014-C17-247046.

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This study was partially financed by the project FOMIX Yucatan CICY YUC-2014-C17-247046.

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  1. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Unidad de Materiales, Calle 43 No. 130 Entre 32 y 34. Col. Chuburna de Hidalgo, 97205, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

    Jorge Uribe-Calderón & Soledad Cecilia Pech-Cohuo

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and CERMA, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Denis Rodrigue & Valerian Hirschberg

  3. Departamento de Ciencias Tecnológicas, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Universidad No 1115, 47819, Ocotlán, Jalisco, Mexico

    Victor Vladimir Fernández-Escamilla

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Uribe-Calderón, J., Rodrigue, D., Hirschberg, V. et al. Influence of surface-modified cellulose nanocrystal on the rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of PLA nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 80, 10193–10213 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04556-w

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