Effect of the Surface modification of Cellulose nanofibers on the Mechanical Properties and Disintegrability of Specific PLA/Cellulose Composites

The authors would like to thank Hanna Nosal and Marek Warzała (Łukasiewicz Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis, Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Poland) for kindly supplying partially saponified fatty acid methyl esters of castor oil (ZS1) and Jagoda Jóźwik-Pruska, Magdalena Szalczyńska and Piotr Cichacz for technical support

PLA/nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) composite films were produced by solution casting. Before use, the cellulose fibers were modified with various types of surface active agents – cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants. The structure and morphology of samples of the cellulose fillers and composite films with polymer were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy and PXRD diffraction. Thermal parameters of the composite films were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the films were evaluated in mechanical tests. The ability to disintegrate of all PLA/NFC composites under composting conditions was also determined and compared.

This work partially was carried out within the project “Development of tailor made PHB composites for technical applications“ PHB2MARKET – realized within the ERA-IB2 Programme, 7th Call, with financial support from Polish National Centre for Research and Development and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.