Effects of Cellulose Nanocrystals Localization on Compatibility Between Polylactic Acid and Polycaprolactone: Correlating the Microstructure and Mechanical Performance
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ABSTRACT This study investigates the correlation between rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) blends incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The research is motivated by the need to improve the compatibility of immiscible biodegradable polymers, such as PLA and PCL, to develop sustainable materials suitable for bio‐packaging applications. Despite their individual advantages, PLA and PCL suffer from poor interfacial adhesion and mechanical incompatibility when blended, limiting their application. The addition of CNCs as renewable and biodegradable nanofillers can address these challenges by enhancing the compatibility and improving material properties. In this view, CNCs were synthesized and characterized, with AFM, TEM, and XRD analyses confirming their successful preparation. Various PLA/PCL blends containing different concentrations of CNCs (0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt%) were prepared and analyzed in terms of the morphology, rheology, and mechanical properties. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the microstructure and final performance. Mechanical testing revealed a significant improvement in the tensile strength and modulus, as the CNC‐0.5 sample revealed the highest tensile strength of 40.01 MPa and a tensile modulus of 1109.16 MPa, compared to 26.63 MPa and 909.71 MPa for the neat blend. Rheological analysis showed an enhanced viscosity and elasticity in the CNC‐0.5 sample, attributed to the effective CNC dispersion and interfacial localization, which improved compatibility. However, higher CNC concentrations (1 wt%) led to aggregation and consequently inferior performance. These results suggest that CNC significantly improves the compatibility of PCL and PLA, making the blends more suitable for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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- Authors
- Haghgoo, G., Dadashi, P., & Babaei, A.
- Affiliations
- Golestan University (IR)
- University of Tehran (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Babaei, Amir
- Venue
- Polymers for Advanced Technologies
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2025-03-31
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 1042-7147 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1581
- OpenAlex
- W4409053153
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5
- FWCI
- 1.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Polymers for Advanced Technologies (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Golestan University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Keywords
- cellulose nanocrystals, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polymer blends, nanofiller dispersion, blend morphology, rheology, tensile strength, nanocrystal aggregation, biodegradable polymers, tissue engineering, drug delivery
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