Abstract

Colloidal lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) from low temperature acid hydrotropic fractionation (AHF) of poplar wood and commercial alkali lignin using p-Toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) were directly mixed with PVA to make PVA/AHF-LNP nanocomposite films. p-TsOH itself acted as a plasticizer for PVA; however the application of p-TsOH alone reduced PVA film tensile strength and therefore toughness. At proper loadings of LNPs and p-TsOH, both the failure strain and tensile strength of PVA/AHF-LNP composites were improved. The formation of hydrogen bonding between the p-TsOH/AHF-LNP aggregates with hydroxyl groups on PVA molecular chains, and the breakage and reforming of p-TsOH/AHF-LNP aggregates, along with the nanophase crazing due to the presence of p-TsOH/AHF-LNP aggregates were identified as the main mechanisms for improving the toughness of PVA/AHF-LNP nanocomposite. The composite also had improved UV shielding performance and biodegradability due to the presence of p-TsOH and LNPs compared with neat PVA. This nanocomposite film could be used as biodegradable anti-ultraviolet packing film.

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