Cellulose-g-poly(d-lactide) nanohybrids induced significant low melt viscosity and fast crystallization of fully bio-based nanocomposites

Piming Ma; Tianfeng Shen; Long Lin; Weifu Dong; Mingqing Chen

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.003

Cellulose-g-poly(d-lactide) nanohybrids induced significant low melt viscosity and fast crystallization of fully bio-based nanocomposites

Carbohydr Polym. 2017 Jan 2:155:498-506. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 4.

Authors

Piming Ma¹, Tianfeng Shen², Long Lin², Weifu Dong², Mingqing Chen³

Affiliations

¹ The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: p.ma@jiangnan.edu.cn.
² The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China.
³ The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: mq-chen@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 27702541
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.003

Abstract

Comb-like nanocrystal cellulose graft poly (d-lactide) (PDLA), i.e., NCC-g-PDLA nanohybrids were synthesized and compounded with poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly (hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHA) to make fully biobased nanocomposites. Surprisingly, the complex viscosity of the PLLA/PHA melts was reduced by more than one order of magnitudes, viz. from 4000 to 100Pas by incorporation of 2-4wt% of the NCC-g-PDLA nanohybrids. Meanwhile, the crystallization of the PLLA component was accelerated by the NCC-g-PDLA nanohybrids due to the strong interaction between PDLA and PLLA macromolecules. The significant reduction in melt viscosity associating with unique core-shell-like microstructures due to the synergetic effect of the NCC-g-PDLA nanohybrids and the PHA would facilitate the preparation of complex-shaped biomass articles and fibers under low(er) pressure and temperatures, which is beyond pure academic interest.

Keywords: Crystallization; Nanocrystal cellulose; Poly (lactide); Viscosity reduction.