writer：Shaohang Shi, Yuankun Wang, Yujuan Zhang, Wenyuan Xie*, Defeng Wu*
keywords：cellulose nanocrystals; PBAT;PLA; blend composites; selective dispersion; ductility.
source：期刊
specific source：Cellulose
Issue time：2023年

Cellulose, 2023, 30, 10139–10156. 

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/polylactide (PBAT/PLA) blend nanocomposites containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are very attractive because all components are biodegradable. In most cases, PLA is rich phase with ductile PBAT as toughening agent and rigid CNCs as reinforcement. If PBAT would be the continuous phase, the roles of CNCs need redefinition. In this work, pristine and modified CNCs were introduced into PBAT/PLA (80/20) blend to prepare ternary composites for the study. The elongation is highly improved in the presence of modified CNCs and strength is well maintained. The CNCs selectively dispersed in PBAT matrix enhance cavitation before PBAT yield. In the yield process, the presence of PLA domains favors delamination of PBAT ligaments, promoting fibrillation of PBAT matrix, and with the development of plastic deformation, the PBAT/PLA interfaces anchored by the interfacially localized CNCs further enhance distortion of the fibrils, contributing to the improved ductility. Therefore, the CNCs act as plasticizer in the PBAT/PLA blend with rich PBAT phase. This work proposes a new role of CNCs in the immiscible polymer blends as plasticizer, and provides interesting information on tailoring plasticity of biodegradable polymer blend composites with rich phase of ductile polymer by regulating the selective localization of CNCs through the hydrophobic modification.

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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10570-023-05501-4