Preparation and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose/Polylactide Nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposite consisting of two biocompatible materials, bacterial cellulose (BC) and polylactide was prepared. To improve the compatibility, maleic anhydride (MA) was first grafted onto BC nanofibers. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile strength and modulus of the composites increased, especially the composites including BC nanofibers modified with MA. Differential scanning calorimetry showed the thermal behaviors changed due to the addition of BC. The morphology of the composites suggested that the grafting of MA made BC nanofibers well disperse into polylactide matrix and the interfacial adhesion between BC and polylactide was improved. This research proposes novel avenues to tailor the dispersion of BC nanofibers into the thermoplastic matrix to produce nanocomposites and improve the compatibility of reinforcement and matrix.

Keywords:

• Bacterial cellulose
• Compatibility
• Nanocomposites
• Polylactide
• Reinforcement

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Open Project Program of the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology.

Notes

^a BC content of composites was 11.5 wt.%.

^b BC content of composites was 6.0 wt.%.

^c BC content of composites was 6.0 wt.%; BPO content was weight percentage compared to PLA.

All samples were measured after hot pressing.

^a The value in bracket are the results of deducting from cold crystallization enthalpy.