Effect of combining cellulose nanocrystals and graphene nanoplatelets on the properties of poly(lactic acid) based films

Abstract

In the present work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and graphene nanoplatelets (GR) were combined in two different ratios and incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) by melt blending technique, at a total loading level of 1 wt%.

Graphene Derivatives in Biopolymer-Based Composites for Food Packaging Applications

“…Recently, as an alternative to chemical modification, oil-in-water Pickering emulsions were used to disperse carbon nanotubes (CNT) into PLA matrix using cellulose nanocrystals as stabilizer and as dispersant due to its amphipathic character [ 172 ]. After the dispersion, films are commonly obtained by solution casting method [ 7 , 170 ] or by melt processing, which is a more convenient method for the potential industrial application [ 173 , 174 , 175 ]. The final structural organization of these composites containing graphene derivative-based fillers (originally suggested for layered silicates) is categorized in three types, namely phase separated, intercalated, and exfoliated ( Figure 4 ).…”

“…The preparation of biopolymers nanocomposites with GNP [ 152 , 173 , 178 , 179 ], chemically modified rGO [ 145 , 167 , 180 , 181 ], or CNT [ 172 , 174 , 175 , 182 ] reinforcement has exhibited significant enhancements in the mechanical properties of chitosan, PLA, alginate, PHBV, cellulose nanofibers, and starch even at very low concentrations (<5%), as described in Table 1 . The Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break are increased with the incorporation of the diverse graphene derivatives as fillers.…”

“…In some cases, the incorporation of graphene derivatives into biopolymer-based formulations could result in a slight decrease of elongation at break, meaning that these composites can present lower flexibility [ 152 , 170 , 178 ]. However, this drawback can be overcome or limited through the synergism of graphene derivatives with other nanofillers, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or ZnO [ 173 , 178 ]. The simultaneous use of different graphene derivatives as fillers could also be a strategy to enhance the mechanical performance of final composites since the reinforcement of PLA-based films with a 0.4 wt% of a hybrid co-filler with added single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and GO resulted in an increased tensile strength and Young’s modulus up to 75% and 130%, respectively [ 7 ].…”

Preparation and Application of Anionic and Cationic Waterborne Polyurethanes and Graphene-Cellulose Nanocrystal as an Antistatic Agent for Cashmere

“…Graphene has extraordinary electrical and thermal conductivities, ultra-high theoretic specific surface area (2630 m 2 /g) and high mechanical strength. These excellent properties make graphene a promising candidate for energy storage devices, composites, and electronics [13]. High specific surface area and electrical conductivity with mechanical strength make this material a promising choice for energy storage devices.…”

Preparation and properties of polylactic acid-based composite fluorescent membrane based on layer-by-layer assembly

“…As a sort of renewable and sustainable nanomaterials, typically produced by strong sulfuric acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, CNCs could self-assemble in aqueous and other suspensions at a critical concentration, or under evaporation, into the chiral nematic organization to exhibit anisotropic structural color. Moreover, owing to the exceptionally high mechanical strength and chemical tunability, much research has been conducted considering the effect of using CNCs as the reinforcing component of different composites [6][7][8][9]. Layered materials are attractive targets for their rich fundamental physics and potential applications in multifunctional devices.…”