Synergistic enhancement and spherulite growth mechanism of PLA composites by multi-dimensional mineralized cellulose nanocrystals
Abstract
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are promising reinforcements for bio-based polylactic acid (PLA); however, their one-dimensional (1D) structure limits their effectiveness due to insufficient hydrogen bonding with PLA chains and inadequate promotion of spherulite formation, resulting in suboptimal dispersion. To address this issue, this study introduces a novel approach by creating mineralized cellulose nanocrystals (MCNC) with multi-dimensional morphologies through in-situ CaCO 3 growth. Three variants of MCNC are incorporated into PLA, including the MCNC 3 variant, which features a 3D cubic crystal structure that significantly enhances PLA spherulite growth by providing additional nucleation sites. This leads to accelerated crystallization rates and an optimized crystal structure, as evidenced by a 3.9 °C reduction in cold crystallization temperature and a 17.1 % increase in crystallinity compared to pure PLA. Furthermore, the rigidity of inorganic CaCO₃ and the toughness of CNC synergistically enhance the mechanical properties of PLA composites through stress dispersion mechanisms, including a 34.6 % increase in tensile strength and an 84.3 % improvement in elongation at break, along with enhanced water permeability and faster degradation rates. Overall, this study presents a novel and multi-dimensional reinforcement strategy to effectively addresses the constraints of traditional CNCs, offering comprehensive improvements that make PLA/MCNC a viable eco-friendly substitute for agricultural mulch films and sustainable packaging solutions.
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CNCs accelerate the crystallization kinetics of PLA, thereby increasing its overall crystallinity.
“Similarly, it has been reported to accelerate the crystallization kinetics of PLA, thereby increasing its overall crystallinity [19,86,87].”
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Ngwenya, M., Gumede, T. P., Pérez Camargo, R. A., & Motloung, B. (2025) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma18225172 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Similarly, it has been reported to accelerate the crystallization kinetics of PLA, thereby increasing its overall crystallinity [19,86,87].”
- Authors
- Wu, C., Wu, B., Abdalkarim, S. Y. H., Wang, M., Zou, Z., Jin, M., & Yu, H.-Y.
- Affiliations
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (CN)
- Huafon Group (China) (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Yu, Hou-Yong
- Venue
- Carbohydrate Polymers
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-10
- Volume
- 366
- Pages
- 123926
- ISSN
- 0144-8617 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4411440714
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Carbohydrate Polymers (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LR22E030002)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (52273095)
- Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (2022C01049)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Keywords
- polylactic acid composites, cellulose nanocrystals, calcium carbonate, spherulite growth, nucleation, crystallization, mechanical properties, water permeability, biodegradation, agricultural mulch films, sustainable packaging, bio-based polymers
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