Abstract
Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is widely used as a reinforcement filler for biocomposites due to its unique properties. However, the challenge of drying MFC and the incompatibility between nanocellulose and polymer matrix still limits the mechanical performance of MFC-reinforced biocomposites. In this study, we used a water-based transesterification reaction to functionalize MFC and explored the capability of oven-dried MFC as a reinforcement filler for polylactic acid (PLA). Remarkably, this oven-dried, vinyl laurate–modified MFC improved the tensile strength by 38 % and Young's modulus by 71 % compared with neat PLA. Our results suggested improved compatibility and dispersion of the fibrils in PLA after modification. This study demonstrated that scalable water-based surface modification and subsequent straightforward oven drying could be a facile method for effectively drying cellulose nanomaterials. The method helps significantly disperse fibrils in polymers and enhances the mechanical properties of microfibrillar cellulose-reinforced biocomposites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 117525 |
| Journal | Carbohydrate Polymers |
| Volume | 256 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 15 2021 |
Funding
This research is sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) , Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office , under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle LLC. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with DOE. The US government retains—and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains—a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ). Microscopy and spectroscopy studies were completed at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, a DOE Office of Science User Facility. This research is sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle LLC. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with DOE. The US government retains?and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains?a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan). Microscopy and spectroscopy studies were completed at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, a DOE Office of Science User Facility.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences | |
| DOE Public Access Plan | |
| US Department of Energy | |
| U.S. Department of Energy | |
| Advanced Manufacturing Office | DE-AC05-00OR22725 |
| Office of Science | |
| Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy | |
| UT-Battelle |
Keywords
- Biocomposites
- Cellulose: (CHO), CAS Number: 9004-34-6
- Microfibrillated cellulose
- Nanocellulose
- Nanocellulose drying
- Nanocellulose surface treatment
- Polylactic acid reinforcement
- Polylactic acid: (CHO), CAS Number: 26100-51-6
- Vinyl laurate: CHO, CAS Number: 2146-71-6