Improvement of Polylactide Properties through Cellulose Nanocrystals Embedded in Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Electrospun Nanofibers.

Carol López De Dicastillo,Juan Palma,Julio Romero,Nancy Alvarado,Luan Garrido,Maria Galotto

doi:10.3390/nano7050106

Carol López De Dicastillo, Juan Palma + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7050106

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Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PV) were obtained to improve dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) within hydrophobic biopolymeric matrices, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Electrospun nanofibers (PV/CNC)n were successfully obtained with a final concentration of 23% (w/w) of CNC. Morphological, structural and thermal properties of developed CNC and electrospun nanofibers were characterized. X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis revealed that the crystallinity of PV was reduced by the electrospinning process, and the incorporation of CNC increased the thermal stability of biodegradable nanofibers. Interactions between CNC and PV polymer also enhanced the thermal stability of CNC and improved the dispersion of CNC within the PLA matrix. PLA materials with CNC lyophilized were also casted in order to compare the properties with materials based on CNC containing nanofibers. Nanofibers and CNC were incorporated into PLA at three concentrations: 0.5%, 1% and 3% (CNC respect to polymer weight) and nanocomposites were fully characterized. Overall, nanofibers containing CNC positively modified the physical properties of PLA materials, such as the crystallinity degree of PLA which was greatly enhanced. Specifically, materials with 1% nanofiber 1PLA(PV/CNC)n presented highest improvements related to mechanical and barrier properties; elongation at break was enhanced almost four times and the permeation of oxygen was reduced by approximately 30%.

Highlights

Facing the need to reduce the negative effects on the environment caused by the accumulation of conventional petroleum-based polymer waste, the efforts of material researchers have focused on the development of new materials based on biopolymers; these are degraded under natural conditions by microorganisms without leaving toxic or harmful waste in the environment
The main goal of this study was to improve the dispersion of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNCs) within poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrices in order to improve its physical properties
The strategy used was the incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into electrospun nanofibers of polyvinyl alcohol, (PV/CNC)n

Summary

Introduction

Facing the need to reduce the negative effects on the environment caused by the accumulation of conventional petroleum-based polymer waste, the efforts of material researchers have focused on the development of new materials based on biopolymers; these are degraded under natural conditions by microorganisms without leaving toxic or harmful waste in the environment These biodegradable materials present a number of excellent and promising properties in several applications, including in packaging, and the automotive and biomedical sectors. The principal aim was the development and the study of these nanofibers as an efficient strategy to successfully disperse CNCs into hydrophobic biopolymers and to obtain homogeneous nanocomposites in order to improve barrier and mechanical properties. Some studies have obtained successfully electrospun PV nanofibers [16,17]

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