Significantly Enhanced Crystallization of Poly(ethylene succinate-co-1,2-propylene succinate) by Cellulose Nanocrystals as an Efficient Nucleating Agent

Abstract

Poly(ethylene succinate-co-1,2-propylene succinate) (PEPS) is a novel aliphatic biodegradable polyester with good mechanical properties. Due to the presence of methyl as a side group, the crystallization rate of PEPS is remarkably slower than that of the poly(ethylene succinate) homopolymer. To promote the potential application of PEPS, the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the crystallization behavior, crystalline morphology, and crystal structure of PEPS was investigated in this research with the aim of increasing the crystallization rate. CNC enhanced both the melt crystallization behavior of PEPS during the cooling process and the overall crystallization rate during the isothermal crystallization process. The crystallization rate of PEPS became faster with an increase in CNC content. The crystalline morphology study directly confirmed the heterogeneous nucleating agent role of CNC. The crystal structure of PEPS remained unchanged in the composites. On the basis of the interfacial energy, the nucleation mechanism of PEPS in the composites was further discussed by taking into consideration the induction of CNC.

Crystallization Behavior and Mechanical Property of Biodegradable Poly(butylene succinate-co-2-methyl succinate)/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composites

“…Thus, CNC has been widely used in the preparation of polymer/CNC composites with the purpose of accelerating the crystallization process and improving the mechanical properties of polymers [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. In the literature, CNC has already been used to modify biodegradable and/or biobased polymers, such as PLA, PCL, PHAs, PBS, and some furan-based homopolymers [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. The above studies clearly show that the crystallization and mechanical properties of these polymers could be simultaneously improved by CNC, thus facilitating the practical application of these biodegradable and/or biobased polyesters [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…In the literature, CNC has already been used to modify biodegradable and/or biobased polymers, such as PLA, PCL, PHAs, PBS, and some furan-based homopolymers [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. The above studies clearly show that the crystallization and mechanical properties of these polymers could be simultaneously improved by CNC, thus facilitating the practical application of these biodegradable and/or biobased polyesters [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”