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Improved properties of PLA biocomposites toughened with bamboo cellulose nanowhiskers through silane modification

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Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a potential green alternative for conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, the brittleness limits its application (e.g., agricultural films, garbage bags, plastic bags, food containers, food packaging). In this study, silane-compatibilized (triethoxyvinylsilane, A-151) bamboo cellulose nanowhiskers (BCNW) were introduced into a PLA matrix to toughen the composites. The A-151 successfully grafted on the surface of cellulose, and the thermal degradation stability of BCNW decreased after A-151 modification. Morphological, tensile and thermal properties of the toughened PLA bionanocomposites were investigated, and the toughen mechanism was clarified. The silane linked BCNW and PLA via Si–O–C bonds and hydrogen bonds. Elongation at break of the composites remarkably increased from 12.3 ± 1.7% (untreated) to 213.8 ± 21.6% (16 wt% A-151 treated). Both tensile strength and modulus decreased with the silane treatment. Typical toughness fracture characteristic (wire-drawing) was observed on the fractural surface. Glass transition temperature and crystallinity decreased from 45.6 °C/30.33% (untreated) to 33.6 °C/13.23% (16 wt% A-151 treated).

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. LY16E030003), the Research Funds of NBU (No. ZX2016000752), the Foundation of Ningbo University (No. XYL17025) and the K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Shaoping Qian & Kuichuan Sheng

  2. School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China

    Shaoping Qian, Linqiong Xu & Cesar A. Fontanillo Lopez

  3. Zhejiang Provincial Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, Hangzhou, 310020, China

    Kai Yu

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  1. Shaoping Qian
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Correspondence to Shaoping Qian or Kuichuan Sheng.

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Qian, S., Sheng, K., Yu, K. et al. Improved properties of PLA biocomposites toughened with bamboo cellulose nanowhiskers through silane modification. J Mater Sci 53, 10920–10932 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2377-2

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