Influence of the 3-Hydroxyvalerate Content on the Processability, Nucleating and Blending Ability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate)-Based Materials.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate (P(3HB--3HV) copolymers are an attractive class of biopolymers whose properties can be tailored by changing the 3-hydroxyvalerate monomer (3HV) concentration, offering the possibility of counteracting problems related to high crystallinity, brittleness, and processability. However, there are few studies about the effects of 3HV content on the processability of copolymers. The present study aims to provide new insights into the effect of 3HV content on the processing step including common practices like compounding, addition of nucleation agents and/or amorphous polymers as plasticizers.

Physical-Chemical and Structural Stability of Poly(3HB-co-3HV)/(ligno-)cellulosic Fibre-Based Biocomposites over Successive Dishwashing Cycles.

In order to lengthen the life cycle of packaging materials, it is essential to study their potential for reuse. This has been never carried out for emerging bio-based and biodegradable materials such as PHBV/(ligno-)cellulosic fibre-based biocomposite materials. This work therefore highlights the impact of successive dishwashing cycles on the physical-chemical and structural stability of such materials.

Development of Bio-Inspired Hierarchical Fibres to Tailor the Fibre/Matrix Interphase in (Bio)composites.

Several naturally occurring biological systems, such as bones, nacre or wood, display hierarchical architectures with a central role of the nanostructuration that allows reaching amazing properties such as high strength and toughness. Developing such architectures in man-made materials is highly challenging, and recent research relies on this concept of hierarchical structures to design high-performance composite materials. This review deals more specifically with the development of hierarchical fibres by the deposition of nano-objects at their surface to tailor the fibre/matrix interphase in (bio)composites.

Hierarchical thermoplastic biocomposites reinforced with flax fibres modified by xyloglucan and cellulose nanocrystals.

This work is focused on the modification of the interphase zone in short flax fibres / polypropylene (PP) composites by a bio-inspired modification of fibres called "nanostructuration" that uses the adsorption of biomass by-products, i.e. cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and xyloglucan (XG), to create hierarchical flax fibres.

Adsorption of xyloglucan and cellulose nanocrystals on natural fibres for the creation of hierarchically structured fibres.

Green treatment of natural fibres is a major issue in paper, textile and biocomposites industries to design innovative and eco-friendly products. In this work, hierarchical structuring of flax woven fabrics by the adsorption of xyloglucan (XG) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is studied. Indeed, CNC have high mechanical properties, high specific surface area and great potential for functionalization.