Toward an alternative compatibilizer for PLA/cellulose composites: grafting of xyloglucan with PLA

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) chains were grafted on xyloglucan substrates via ring-opening polymerization of the L-lactide monomer. Different parameters such as the nature of the substrate (native or modified xyloglucan) and the substrate/monomer ratios were varied in the synthesis to achieve different lengths of the grafted chains. A range of experimental techniques including infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to characterize the final product. Thermal analysis showed that the glass transition temperature of xyloglucan was decreased from 252 °C to 216 °C following the grafting of PLLA. The grafting of less hydrophilic chains from xyloglucan also affected the interaction with water: the PLLA-grafted xyloglucan was insoluble in water and the moisture uptake could be decreased by about 30%. Xyloglucan adsorbs strongly to cellulose; therefore such a graft copolymer may improve the compatibility between cellulose fibers and PLLA. The PLLA-grafted xyloglucan may be useful as a novel compatibilizer in fiber-reinforced PLLA composites.