Abstract
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based hybrid nanocomposites (PLA, nanoclay and nanocellulose) were prepared by reinforcing neat PLA with commercially available nanoclay (Cloisite C30B) and nanocellulose, in the form of either partially acetylated cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) or nanocrystalline cellulose. Composites with 1 or 5 wt% of nanocellulose, in combination with 1, 3 and 5 wt% of nanoclay, were prepared, and their barrier properties were investigated. It was found that the combination of clay and nanocellulose clearly resulted in synergistic behaviour in terms of the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) through a reduction of up to 90% in OTR and a further reduction in the water vapour transmission rate of up to 76%. In addition, the nanocomposite films showed improved thermomechanical resistance and improved crystallisation kinetics while maintaining high film transparency. This makes the hybrid PLA/CNF/C30B nanocomposites a very promising material for food packaging applications.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 988-995 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Polymer International |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2016 |
MoE publication type | Not Eligible |
Keywords
- barrier properties
- cellulose nanofibres (CNF)
- nanoclay
- nanocomposites
- poly(lactic acid) (PLA)
- thermomechanical properties