Biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), are widely investigated for their potential applications in many sectors. The improvement of their properties can be achieved by blending biopolyesters with different polymers [1] or by dispersing reinforcing fibers. Natural cellulose fibers, also coming from forest waste streams, can be dispersed in a PLA based blend obtaining an improved level of fiber/matrix adhesion if a reactive extrusion method is selected for their preparation. As a result of the comparison among different commercial or waste fibers, it was evidenced that the final mechanical properties can be modulated by properly selecting the geometrical features of fibers, correlated to their origin, keeping also into account the effect of processing onto fibers characteristics. A renewable feedstock on a worldwide scale is chitin waste material from the seafood industry, exceeding 25 billion tons/year. Recently, it has become possible to produce pure chitin crystals, named “chitin nanofibrils” for their needle-like shape and nanostructured average size. These nano-fillers can be also used to obtain biopolyesters based nano-composites.
NATURAL NANO OR MICRO POLYSACCHARIDE FIBERS IN BIOPOLYESTERS MATRICES
COLTELLI, MARIA BEATRICE;GIGANTE, VITO;CINELLI, PATRIZIA;LAZZERI, ANDREA
2015-01-01
Abstract
Biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), are widely investigated for their potential applications in many sectors. The improvement of their properties can be achieved by blending biopolyesters with different polymers [1] or by dispersing reinforcing fibers. Natural cellulose fibers, also coming from forest waste streams, can be dispersed in a PLA based blend obtaining an improved level of fiber/matrix adhesion if a reactive extrusion method is selected for their preparation. As a result of the comparison among different commercial or waste fibers, it was evidenced that the final mechanical properties can be modulated by properly selecting the geometrical features of fibers, correlated to their origin, keeping also into account the effect of processing onto fibers characteristics. A renewable feedstock on a worldwide scale is chitin waste material from the seafood industry, exceeding 25 billion tons/year. Recently, it has become possible to produce pure chitin crystals, named “chitin nanofibrils” for their needle-like shape and nanostructured average size. These nano-fillers can be also used to obtain biopolyesters based nano-composites.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.