Abstract
In this study, the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the properties of polylactide (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends was investigated. Samples were prepared via (i) solution casting (SC) and (ii) combination of solution casting and melt mixing through twin-screw extruder (mTSE). Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the effect of CNC content on the droplet morphology of PBAT dispersed phase. Rheological analysis showed that 3 wt% of CNC formed a strong network in PLA by SC method. Differential scanning calorimetry results depicted the heterogeneous nucleation effect of CNC on PLA’s crystallization in samples prepared by mTSE. Dynamic mechanical analysis illustrated that CNC enhanced the modulus beyond the glass transition temperature of PLA regardless of the preparation method. The tensile and impact properties also elucidated that the existence of any possible residual solvent in blends could dramatically avoid achievement of improvements in ductility and impact properties.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would also like to sincerely thank Professor Seniha Fatma Guner, our TUBITAK 1001 project consultant, and Professor Metin Hayri Acar for providing us their lab space to, respectively, run rheological and DSC experiments.
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The author would like to acknowledge the financial supports by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) in the context of 1001 project with the project number of 117 M238.
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Sarul, D.S., Arslan, D., Vatansever, E. et al. Preparation and characterization of PLA/PBAT/CNC blend nanocomposites. Colloid Polym Sci 299, 987–998 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-021-04822-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-021-04822-9