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Reinforcement effect of poly (methyl methacrylate)-g-cellulose nanofibers on LDPE/thermoplastic starch composites: preparation and characterization

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Abstract

The effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and poly [methyl methacrylate (MMA)]-grafted cellulose nanofibers (CNF-g-PMMA) on mechanical properties and degradability of a 75/25 low density polyethylene/thermoplastic starch (LDPE/TPS) blend was investigated. Graft copolymerization on CNFs was performed in an aqueous suspension by free radical polymerization using MMA as an acrylic monomer. In addition, a LDPE/TPS blend was reinforced by different amounts of CNFs (1–5 wt%) and CNF-g-PMMA (1–7 wt%) using a twin-screw extruder. A 61% grafting of PMMA on the surface of CNFs was demonstrated by gravimetric analysis. Moreover, after modification the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed a 20% increase of carbon atoms on the surface of CNFs and a 22.6% decrease in the oxygen content of its surface. The mechanical properties of the CNFs-modified composites were significantly improved compared to the unmodified nanocomposites. The highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus were obtained for the composites reinforced by 3 and 7 wt% CNF-g-PMMA, respectively. The degradability of cellulose nanocomposites was studied by water absorption and soil burial tests. Surface modification of CNFs lowered water absorption, and soil burial test of the LDPE/TPS blend showed improvement in biodegradability by addition of CNF-g-PMMA.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Professor Mohini M Sain from Center for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, University of Toronto for his scientific assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran

    Mobina Ahmadi, Tayebeh Behzad & Rouhallah Bagheri

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  1. Mobina Ahmadi
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  2. Tayebeh Behzad
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  3. Rouhallah Bagheri
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Correspondence to Tayebeh Behzad.

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Ahmadi, M., Behzad, T. & Bagheri, R. Reinforcement effect of poly (methyl methacrylate)-g-cellulose nanofibers on LDPE/thermoplastic starch composites: preparation and characterization. Iran Polym J 26, 733–742 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0558-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0558-5

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