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Influence of functionalised lignin on strength and antioxidant properties of polylactic acid films

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Abstract

Currently, it is challenging to make biodegradable polylactic acids (PLA) composite films which possess high strength and toughness. To achieve the same, Lignin is unrivalled reinforcing filler which can be used in the bioplastic because of its high mechanical strength and antioxidant properties. Here, lignin has been in situ polymerized with L-lactic acid to create lignin grafted polylactic acid co-polymers which have been later combined with PLA matrix to prepare composites films with improved properties. Various analysis techniques i.e. C13 NMR, 1H NMR, and FTIR were conducted on lignin grafted lactic acid copolymer which confirmed the presence of ester linkages between lignin and lactic acid. The findings show that a modest quantity of filler can increase crystallinity, while lowering glass transition temperature and cold crystallization temperature. Additionally, the PLA composite film with 12% filler content exhibited 26.4 MPa tensile strength with 17.91% elongation at break and 1.4 GPa Young’s modulus. The films also demonstrated strong antioxidant qualities done through radical scavenging, making them quite viable in packaging applications.

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The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also forms part of an ongoing study.

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Acknowledgements

All the authors acknowledge TEQIP-III (MHRD, Govt of India) Dr S.S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh for their financial support. Preeti Beniwal acknowledge Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Fund grant for financial support and contingency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr SSB University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Preeti Beniwal & Amrit Pal Toor

  2. Energy Research Centre, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Disha Guliani & Amrit Pal Toor

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  1. Preeti Beniwal
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  2. Disha Guliani
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Correspondence to Amrit Pal Toor.

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Beniwal, P., Guliani, D. & Toor, A.P. Influence of functionalised lignin on strength and antioxidant properties of polylactic acid films. J Polym Res 31, 68 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-024-03912-w

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