Renewable rice straw cellulose nanofibril reinforced poly (ε-caprolactone) composite films
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Abstract In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) fabricated from rice straw were utilized to reinforce poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and the structure and properties of these CNF/PCL composite films were analyzed by morphology observation and the characterization of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), mechanical property and water absorption tests. The experimental results revealed that in PCL matrix, CNF exhibits a homogeneous distribution at low content, but shows some aggregates at high content. The incorporation of CNFs doesn’t change the crystal type, crystallinity and melting temperature of PCL, but accelerates the crystallization of PCL due to the heterogeneous nucleating agent effect of CNF. Compared with PCL film, the CNF/PCL composite films show obvious improvement of mechanical strength and Young’s modulus. However, after the CNF content exceeds 10%, the tensile strength of the composite films begins to decrease, and high loading of CNFs also causes remarkable negative influences on the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of the composite films.
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PCL-based systems with nanocellulose exhibit increased stiffness and biodegradation rate, especially when surface-modified nanocellulose is used to improve interfacial adhesion with the hydrophobic PCL matrix.
“Similarly, PCL-based systems exhibited increased stiffness and biodegradation rate [20,21,22], especially when surface-modified NC is used to improve interfacial adhesion with the more hydrophobic PCL matrix [23]”
Addition of NC significantly improves the mechanical performance of PCL, with measurable increases in tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break at low NC loadings typically below 5 wt.%.
“numerous studies confirm that the addition of NC significantly improves the mechanical performance of PCL. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break have all shown measurable increases at low NC loadings (typically < 5 wt.%) [21,22,23,36,67]”
There are three main types of nanocellulose: cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, and bacterial nanocellulose, each with distinct structural and physical characteristics.
“Studies in the literature have identified three main types of NC, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), each with distinct structural and physical characteristics [21,32,36]”
Melt blending offers scalability and solvent-free processing, but achieving uniform NC dispersion in PCL remains a challenge due to the hydrophilic nature of NC and its tendency to agglomerate within the hydrophobic PCL matrix.
“Melt blending offers the advantage of scalability and solvent-free processing, although achieving uniform NC dispersion remains a challenge due to its hydrophilic nature and tendency to agglomerate within the hydrophobic PCL matrix [21,66]”
CNCs enhance the crystallinity of PCL.
“For instance, CNCs have been shown to enhance the crystallinity of PCL [21,22,68,69].”
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- Authors
- Qiao, X., Wang, Z., & Sun, K.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Qiao, Xiuying
- Venue
- Materials Chemistry and Physics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-12
- Volume
- 292
- Pages
- 126879
- ISSN
- 0254-0584 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4303474923
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 0.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Materials Chemistry and Physics (publishedVersion)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
- Keywords
- cellulose nanofibers, rice straw, polycaprolactone, composite films, nanofiller reinforcement, heterogeneous nucleation, crystallization, tensile strength, thermal stability, water absorption, hydrophobicity, biodegradable packaging, biomedical materials
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