High Oxygen Barrier Property of Poly(propylene carbonate)/Polyethylene Glycol Nanocomposites with Low Loading of Cellulose Nanocrytals

Abstract

Bionanocomposites of poly­(propylene carbonate) (PPC) enhanced by cellulose nanocrytals (CNCs) are prepared via a two-step process using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a carrier. Interfacial interaction among PPC, PEG, and CNCs, dispersion of CNCs in bionanocomposites, thermal properties, mechanical behavior, oxygen barrier property, and rheological responses are investigated. The obtained PPC/PEG/CNC nanocomposites display obvious improvement of barrier properties by adding an extremely low loading of CNCs. O2 permeability is decreased by more than 76% at CNC loading of 0.3 wt %. The Cussler model works better to predict gas barrier for nanocomposites. TEM results show that CNC is well dispersed in the matrix, and the introduction of CNC remarkably increases the tensile strength and storage modulus of PPC. Interestingly, elongation at break of the PPC/PEG/CNC nanocomposite remains above 580%. Moreover, the inclusion of CNCs increases the thermal stability and initial decomposition temperature (T –5%) of nanocomposites. The T –5% for the PPC/PEG/0.7CNC nanocomposite is approximately 246.5 °C, which is increased by 17.1% compared with that of pure PPC (210.5 °C). This makes PPC/PEG/CNC nanocomposites a very promising degradable material for food packaging applications.

Carbon Dioxide–Derived Poly(propylene carbonate) as a Matrix for Composites and Nanocomposites: Performances and Applications

“…In addition, the inherent impermeability of CNC to oxygen could lead to a more tortuous pathway to reduce the oxygen permeability through the samples (Figure b). Based on the overall performances, PPC/PEG/CNC nanocomposites can be promising candidates for food, biomedical, or electronic packaging applications …”

“…In the presence of 3 wt% nanoclay, the oxygen permeability of PPC reduced by 44.7% compared to neat PPC . Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have been used as an effective nanofiller in the PPC matrix system to reduce the oxygen barrier properties . The PPC/PEG with CNC showed a considerable reduction in oxygen permeability compared to neat PPC and PPC/PEG blend.…”

“…[85] PPC/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/CNC composites were prepared by two-step processes, that is, solvent mixing and melt blending. [88] In the first step, a PEG/CNC masterbatch with different concentrations (1-7 wt%) of CNC was prepared via solvent mixing using water as a solvent. The dried PEG/CNC master-batch was then diluted with PPC by melt blending to obtain PPC/PEG/CNC nanocomposites with 0.1-0.7 wt% CNC.…”

“…Based on the overall performances, PPC/PEG/ CNC nanocomposites can be promising candidates for food, biomedical, or electronic packaging applications. [88] Transparent PPC/cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) composite films with improved performances were prepared by solution casting. [89] The CNWs were uniformly dispersed without aggregation, which suggest that the PPC and CNWs have excellent compatibility.…”

Poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐based bionanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanocrystal for potential application as a packaging material

“…In order to avoid the aggregation of CNC and guarantee the good dispersion of CNC in the PPC phase, we first prepared polyethylene glycol (PEG)/CNC masterbatch using PEG as a carrier by ultrasonic disperser to make hydrogen bonding form between PEG and CNC, and then melt blending with PPC and PHB via a Haake mixer. In our previous work, we have also prepared a well‐dispersed CNC‐reinforced PPC nanocomposite by using PEG as a carrier . PPC nanocomposites with remarkably enhanced tensile strength, thermal stability, and barrier properties are obtained by a low loading incorporation of CNC.…”