2 research outputs found
Effect of the addition of polyester-grafted-cellulose nanocrystals on the shape memory properties of biodegradable PLA/PCL nanocomposites
In this work the thermally-activated shape memory response of biodegradable nanocomposites based on PLA/PCL blend reinforced with different type of cellulose nanocrystals has been reported, and compared with those of the neat matrix, at the same transition temperature of 55 °C and at the same different deformations, 50%, 100% and 150%. In particular, cellulose nanocrystals have been synthesized and then functionalized by “grafting from” reaction by ring opening polymerization of both PLLA and PCL using the –OH groups onto the cellulose nanocrystals surface as initiators for the reaction. The morphology, thermal and mechanical analysis have been performed in order to obtain the parameters for the thermo-mechanical shape memory cycles. Moreover, the addition of the CNC-based nanofillers on the compatibility of PLA-PCL blends in 70:30 proportion has been evaluated. All the biodegradable nanocomposite formulations showed excellent shape memory response, similar to those of the neat matrix, with strain recovery ratio and strain fixity ratio higher than 80% and 90%, respectively. This fact indicates that in this case, the shape memory response of the nanocomposites is mainly controlled by the response of the neat blend and they are slightly influenced by the increase of compatibility between the components of the blend. In addition, all nanocomposite films were fully disintegrated under composting conditions confirming their biodegradable nature, obtaining that the presence of CNC-based nanofillers speeds up the disintegration rate of the nanocomposites in comparison with the pure matrix.Authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and
Competitiveness (MINEICO) (MAT2017-88123-P), POLYMAGIC:
(PCIN-2017-036) cofinanced with FEDER funds and the Regional
Government of Madrid (S2013/MIT-2862). M.P.A. and L.P.
acknowledge the “Juan de la Cierva” (FJCI-2014-20630) and
“Ramon y Cajal” (RYC-2014-15595) contracts from the MINEICO,
respectively. The authors also thank CSIC for the I-Link project (ILink1149).
JMR is a FRS-FNRS research associatePeer Reviewe