Amorphized cellulose as filler in biocomposites based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers like poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) are crucial for sustainable materials.
• Incorporating natural fillers can enhance PCL properties but often faces challenges with interfacial adhesion.
• Developing effective strategies for filler-polymer interaction is key to creating advanced biodegradable composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate amorphous cellulose particles as novel fillers for PCL composites.
• To evaluate the impact of cellulose structure and morphology on composite properties.
• To assess the role of interfacial adhesion in modulating composite performance and degradation.

Main Methods:

• Solvent-free mechano-chemical processing to obtain amorphous cellulose particles.
• Preparation of PCL composites using amorphous cellulose particles and commercial cellulose fibers.
• Application of a modified PCL compatibilizer to enhance polymer-filler adhesion.
• Physico-mechanical characterization (tensile, thermal) and soil burial degradation tests.

Main Results:

• Amorphous cellulose particles, when used with a compatibilizer, significantly improved PCL composite properties.
• Enhanced interfacial adhesion led to better tensile and thermal characteristics.
• Modified cellulose fillers influenced water absorption and water vapor transmission rates.
• The biodegradation kinetics of the composites were effectively modulated by the filler type and interfacial strategy.

Conclusions:

• Amorphous cellulose particles are promising fillers for biodegradable PCL composites.
• Interfacial engineering using compatibilizers is critical for optimizing filler-polymer interactions.
• This approach allows for tailored material properties and controlled degradation rates for sustainable applications.