Acetylation of lignin containing microfibrillated cellulose and its reinforcing effect for polylactic acid

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 134; p. 109803
• Main Authors: Yetiş, Ferhat, Liu, Xuqing, Sampson, William W., Gong, R. Hugh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 05.07.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Acetylation; Biocomposites; Biomedical materials; Composite materials; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Hydrogen bonds; Lignin; Mechanical properties; Microfibrillated lignocellulose; Polarity; Polylactic acid; Studies; Surface modification; Thermodynamic properties; Surface modification; Acetylation; Microfibrillated lignocellulose; Biocomposites; Polylactic acid
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.109803

[Display omitted] •High lignin containing MFLC was isolated from CTMP without pre-treatment.•The surface of MFLC was acetylated to improve the interface with PLA matrix.•Ac-MFLC significantly improved the crystallization rate of PLA.•Biocomposites exhibited superior mechanical performance and thermal properties. High hemicellulose and lignin content MFC (MFLC) was isolated from chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP), and surface acetylation used to significantly decrease its polarity. This modification of MFLC provided good dispersibility in PLA when used for biocomposites fabrication via a solvent casting method. MFLC exhibited higher modification efficiency compared to lignin-free MFC. Base-catalysed surface acetylation unchanged the crystalline structure of MFLC. Detection of the hydrogen bond between acetylated MFLC (Ac-MFLC) and PLA confirmed its role in improvement of the mechanical performance, thermal properties and crystallinity of the biocomposite with Ac-MFLC acting as an effective reinforcing and nucleating agent. The approach confirms the suitability of surface functionalization of MFLC for fabrication of biocomposites for a wide range of applications such as packaging and biomedical products.