Effect of Size of Cellulose Particle as Filler in the PVC Biocomposites on their Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

The combination between synthetic polyolefin with natural polymer such as cellulose, starch and chitosan can stimulate biodegradation processes of waste plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and other conventional plastics. In this work, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) biocomposite was prepared by compounding cellulose particle into PVC matrix in the presence of PVC-g-maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. Cellulose nanoparticles were prepared by physical top-down method after milling by using High-Energy Ball-mill. The diameter size of cellulose nanoparticle was obtained as 170 nm. Cellulose particles were added as filler with ratio of 10-30 phr in PVC matrix. PVC biocomposites was prepared as a sheet film with the thickness of 0.3 mm by hot-press method. The addition of cellulose particle into PVC matrix was examined in various filler volumes and various cellulose particle sizes. The obtained PVC composite films were characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier-Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The rheological and mechanical properties of PVC and cellulose composites were investigated as a function of surface structure and filler volume fraction.