Surface-modified and oven-dried microfibrillated cellulose reinforced biocomposites: Cellulose network enabled high performance

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.

Keywords: Biocomposites; Cellulose: (C(6)H(10)O(5))(n), CAS Number: 9004-34-6; Microfibrillated cellulose; Nanocellulose; Nanocellulose drying; Nanocellulose surface treatment; Polylactic acid reinforcement; Polylactic acid: (C(3)H(4)O(2))(n), CAS Number: 26100-51-6; Vinyl laurate: C(14)H(26)O(2), CAS Number: 2146-71-6.