AI Article Synopsis
- Successful reinforcement in polymeric nanocomposites requires effective filler dispersion and strong interfacial contact, which is particularly challenging for renewable materials due to hydrophilic filler aggregation.
- An innovative method is introduced to integrate cellulosic nanowhiskers (CNW) with polylactide (PLA) using ring-opening polymerization initiated from the CNW surface, achieving significant enhancements in thermal and mechanical properties.
- The CNW-PLA composites show notable improvements, including heat distortion temperatures of 120 °C at 10 wt % and 150 °C at 15 wt %, faster crystallization rates, and maintained transparency of melt-pressed films, indicating successful filler dispersion.
Article Abstract
Successful filler dispersion and establishment of good interfacial contact with the surrounding matrix are essential for optimized reinforcement in polymeric nanocomposites. In particular, in renewable-based composites this can be challenging, where hydrophilic attractions between nanofillers facilitate aggregation. Here an innovative approach to prepare cellulosic nanowhisker (CNW) reinforced polylactide (PLA) is presented. The lactide ring-opening polymerization is initiated from CNW surface hydroxyl groups after partial acetylation to control the grafting density. Grafting of PLA chains is verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resulting nanocomposites display exceptional properties; a heat distortion temperature of 120 °C is achieved at 10 wt % CNW loading and can be further enhanced to reach 150 °C at 15 wt % CNW. The formation of a percolating network is verified by comparison of modulus data with an established theoretical model. Additionally, nucleation by CNWs reduces the crystallization half-time to 15 s compared with 90 s for PLA. Melt-pressed films retain transparency indicating good filler dispersion.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bm300149w | DOI Listing |
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