Silica-functionalized cellulose nanofibers enable non-reactive compatibilization of PBAT/PLA blends

Immiscibility between poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) leads to coarse phase separation and weak stress transfer in biodegradable blends. In this work, silica-functionalized cellulose nanofibers modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMS-CNF) were investigated as a non-reactive additive for controlling the morphology and properties of PBAT/PLA (60/40) blends. The hybrid nanofibers were prepared by sol-gel silica deposition and incorporated at 1-5 wt%. Structural and performance changes were evaluated by FTIR, SEM-EDS, differential scanning calorimetry, oscillatory rheology, tensile testing, and optical transmittance measurements. TMS-CNF refined the dispersed-phase morphology of the blend, and at 4 wt% increased tensile strength by 37% while preserving high ductility. Thermal analysis indicated altered crystallization behavior without evidence of bulk crosslinking. Rheological measurements showed only modest viscoelastic changes relative to the neat blend, consistent with additional structural constraints in the melt but not with the formation of a distinct rheological network. Compared with Joncryl ADR-4468, the TMS-CNF-containing films also retained better optical transparency. Overall, the results show that TMS-CNF acts as an effective non-reactive morphology-modifying additive that improves the mechanical performance of PBAT/PLA blends without relying on reactive chain extension.