Potential of polylactide based nanocomposites-nanopolysaccharide filler for reinforcement purpose: a comprehensive review

Modified Biomass-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites

Polylactic acid (PLA), as a renewable and biodegradable green polymer material, is hailed as one of the most promising biopolymers capable of replacing petroleum-derived polymers for industrial applications. Nevertheless, its limited toughness, thermal stability, and barrier properties have restricted its extensive application. To address these drawbacks in PLA, research efforts have primarily focused on enhancing its properties through copolymerization, blending, and plasticization. Notably, the blending of modified biomass with PLA is expected not only to effectively improve its deficiencies but also to maintain its biodegradability, creating a fully green composite with substantial developmental prospects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of modified biomass-reinforced PLA, with an emphasis on the improvements in PLA's mechanical properties, thermal stability, and barrier properties achieved through modified cellulose, lignin, and starch. At the end of the article, a brief exploration of plasma modification of biomass is presented and provides a promising outlook for the application of reinforced PLA composite materials in the future. This review provides valuable insights regarding the path towards enhancing PLA.

The Effects of the Deacetylation of Chitin Nanowhiskers on the Performance of PCL/PLA Bio-Nanocomposites

The multiple roles of organic nanofillers in biodegradable nanocomposites (NC) with a blend-based matrix is not yet fully understood. This work highlights combination of reinforcing and structure-directing effects of chitin nanowhiskers (CNW) with different degrees of deacetylation (DA), i.e., content of primary or secondary amines on their surface, in the nanocomposite with the PCL/PLA 1:1 matrix. Of importance is the fact that aminolysis with CNW leading to chain scission of both polyesters, especially of PLA, is practically independent of DA. DA also does not influence thermal stability. At the same time, the more marked chain scission/CNW grafting for PLA in comparison to PCL, causing changes in rheological parameters of components and related structural alterations, has crucial effects on mechanical properties in systems with a bicontinuous structure. Favourable combinations of multiple effects of CNW leads to enhanced mechanical performance at low 1% content only, whereas negative effects of structural changes, particularly of changed continuity, may eliminate the reinforcing effects of CNW at higher contents. The explanation of both synergistic and antagonistic effects of structures formed is based on the correspondence of experimental results with respective basic model calculations.

Reinforcement of single-walled carbon nanotubes on polydimethylsiloxane membranes for CO2, O2, and N2 permeability/selectivity

In this study, PDMS incorporated with SWCNTs have been fabricated via solution casting method for industrial applications and characterized by the analyses of SEM, FTIR, TGA, AFM, and MST. The modified membranes were further analyzed for CO₂, O₂, and N₂ gas permeability. The strategic membranes have five different weight ratios (0.013, 0.025, 0.038, 0.050, 0.063) compared to neat PDMS membranes. The even distribution of SWCNTs in PDMS provided results that showed improvement in thermal stability. However, mechanical strength has been weakened with increased concentration of nanofiller because of the increase in the number of SWCNTs by increases that imperfections become more severe. The designed polymeric membranes with good thermal stability and adequate mechanical strength can be used for the selectivity and permeability of CO₂, O₂, and N₂ gases. The effect of the PDMS-SWCNTs on gas permeability has been studied. 0.063 wt.% SWCNTs presented the maximum permeability of CO₂ gas while maximum O₂ and N₂ gas permeability have been obtained by 0.013 wt.% SWCNTs. The ideal selectivity of mixed (50:50) gas conditions has been tested. The maximum CO₂/N₂ ideal selectivity was obtained by 0.050 and 0.063 wt.% SWCNTs while maximum O₂/N₂ ideal selectivity obtained by 0.050 wt.% SWCNTs. Therefore, the fabrication of this novel SWCNTs-PDMS membrane may lead to separating the industrial exhaust and be used as a potential membrane for environmental remediation in the future.

Processing, Properties, Modifications, and Environmental Impact of Nanocellulose/Biopolymer Composites: A Review

The increasing concerns about plastic pollution and climate change have encouraged research into bioderived and biodegradable materials. Much attention has been focused on nanocellulose due to its abundance, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties. Nanocellulose-based biocomposites are a viable option to fabricate functional and sustainable materials for important engineering applications. This review addresses the most recent advances in composites, with a particular focus on biopolymer matrices such as starch, chitosan, polylactic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol. Additionally, the effects of the processing methods, the influence of additives, and the outturn of nanocellulose surface modification on the biocomposite's properties are outlined in detail. Moreover, the change in the composites' morphological, mechanical, and other physiochemical properties due to reinforcement loading is reviewed. Further, mechanical strength, thermal resistance, and the oxygen-water vapor barrier properties are enhanced with the incorporation of nanocellulose into biopolymer matrices. Furthermore, the life cycle assessment of nanocellulose and composites were considered to analyze their environmental profile. The sustainability of this alternative material is compared through different preparation routes and options.

Biodegradable thermoset poly(lactic acid) resin containing phosphorus: Flame retardancy, mechanical properties and its soil degradation behavior

With the growing environmental awareness, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is regarded as one of the most promising varieties of bio-based polyesters owing to its environment-friendly and biodegradable advantages. However, poor thermal stability and flammability disadvantages limit the applications of PLA. Herein, a series of biodegradable intrinsic flame-retardant thermoset PLA resins (DMMP-M4sPLA) were designed. DMMP-M4sPLA resins exhibit excellent flame retardancy, achieving UL 94 V-0 rating and limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 28.1 %-31.7 %. Meanwhile, the cured DMMP-M4sPLA resins show a high glass transition temperature and tensile strength. In addition, the resins demonstrate full degradation with no harmful degradation products. This work provides an advanced design strategy to create bio-based and biodegraded resins with superior flame retardant and mechanical performance, holding great potentials in the fields of aviation interior, automotive, etc.

Effect of Polydopamine Coating of Cellulose Nanocrystals on Performance of PCL/PLA Bio-Nanocomposites

In bio-nanocomposites with a poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix with neat and polydopamine (PDA)-coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCd), the use of different mixing protocols with masterbatches prepared by solution casting led to marked variation of localization, as well as reinforcing and structure-directing effects, of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The most balanced mechanical properties were found with an 80/20 PLA/PCL ratio, and complex PCL/CNC structures were formed. In the nanocomposites with a bicontinuous structure (60/40 and 40/60 PLA/PCL ratios), pre-blending the CNC and CNCd/PLA caused a marked increase in the continuity of mechanically stronger PLA and an improvement in related parameters of the system. On the other hand, improved continuity of the PCL phase when using a PCL masterbatch may lead to the reduction in or elimination of reinforcing effects. The PDA coating of CNC significantly changed its behavior. In particular, a higher affinity to PCL and ordering of PLA led to dissimilar structures and interface transformations, while also having antagonistic effects on mechanical properties. The negligible differences in bulk crystallinity indicate that alteration of mechanical properties may have originated from differences in crystallinity at the interface, also influenced by presence of CNC in this area. The complex effect of CNC on bio-nanocomposites, including the potential of PDA coating to increase thermal stability, is worthy of further study.

Whey protein isolate/jujube polysaccharide-based edible nanocomposite films reinforced with starch nanocrystals for the shelf-life extension of banana: Optimization and characterization

The formulation of new bionanocomposite (BNC) films using whey protein isolates (WPI, 3.3-11.7 %)-jujube polysaccharide (JPS, 1.59-18.41 %)/starch nanocrystals (SNCs, 0.32-3.68 %) blends was optimized. The ultrasound-assisted acid hydrolysis produced ~63.1 nm SNCs from native starch with -24.3 mV ζ-potential. The extracted JPS purification led to a single symmetrical peak for galactoarabinan-rich fraction (1.35 × 10⁵ Da). The optimal levels of barrier (oxygen (11.85 cm³ m^-2 d^-1 atm^-1) and water vapor (3.22 × 10^-10 g m^-1 s^-1 Pa^-1) permeability rate), optical (opacity index (2.7 AU μm^-1), total color difference (18.69), and whiteness index (77.40)), and thermal (glass transition temperature (-8.29 °C) and melting point (110.38 °C)) properties were obtained at 5.0 % WPI, 15.0 % JPS, and 3.0 % SNCs. The film-forming solution of optimal BNCs had a significant antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The improved crystallinity of BNCs at an optimal SNC level was confirmed by the XRD. The AFM and SEM images confirmed a continuous and uniform network for the optimal BNCs without any pores or cracks accompanied by low surface roughness. The FTIR spectroscopy proved covalent interaction and hydrogen bonding among chemical functional groups of WPI and JPS reinforced with SNCs. The optimal BNC could preserve banana fruits with favorable physicochemical and microbial quality during storage.

Comparison of Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid) Composites Prepared from Different Components of Corn Straw Fiber

In recent years, under the pressure of resource shortage and white pollution, the development and utilization of biodegradable wood-plastic composites (WPC) has become one of the hot spots for scholars’ research. Here, corn straw fiber (CSF) was chosen to reinforce a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix with a mass ratio of 3:7, and the CSF/PLA composites were obtained by melt mixing. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the corn straw fiber core (CSFC) and corn straw fiber skin (CSFS) loaded PLA composites were stronger than those of the CSFS/PLA composites when the particle size of CSF was low. The tensile strength and bending strength of CSFS/CSFC/PLA are 54.08 MPa and 87.24 MPa, respectively, and the elongation at break is 4.60%. After soaking for 8 hours, the water absorption of CSF/PLA composite reached saturation. When the particle size of CSF is above 80 mesh, the saturated water absorption of the material is kept below 7%, and CSF/PLA composite has good hydrophobicity, which is mainly related to the interfacial compatibility between PLA and CSF. By observing the microstructure of the cross section of the CSF/PLA composite, the research found that the smaller the particle size of CSF, the smoother the cross section of the composite and the more unified the dispersion of CSF in PLA. Therefore, exploring the composites formed by different components of CSF and PLA can not only expand the application range of PLA, but also enhance the application value of CSF in the field of composites.

Novel Biodegradable 3D-Printed Analgesics-Eluting-Nanofibers Incorporated Nuss Bars for Therapy of Pectus Excavatum

A novel hybrid biodegradable Nuss bar model was developed to surgically correct the pectus excavatum and reduce the associated pain during treatment. The scheme consisted of a three-dimensional (3D) printed biodegradable polylactide (PLA) Nuss bar as the surgical implant and electrospun polylactide-polyglycolide (PLGA) nanofibers loaded with lidocaine and ketorolac as the analgesic agents. The degradation rate and mechanical properties of the PLA Nuss bars were characterized after submersion in a buffered mixture for different time periods. In addition, the in vivo biocompatibility of the integrated PLA Nuss bars/analgesic-loaded PLGA nanofibers was assessed using a rabbit chest wall model. The outcomes of this work suggest that integration of PLA Nuss bar and PLGA/analgesic nanofibers could successfully enhance the results of pectus excavatum treatment in the animal model. The histological analysis also demonstrated good biocompatibility of the PLA Nuss bars with animal tissues. Eventually, the 3D printed biodegradable Nuss bars may have a potential role in pectus excavatum treatment in humans.

Insight into melting point depression of polylactide nanocomposites with acetylated chitin nanocrystals

Chitin nanocrystal (ChNC) was used to prepare fully biodegradable nanocomposites with polylactide (PLA). The nucleation and melting behavior of nanocomposites were studied with the objective to correlate PLA-ChNC affinity to PLA crystallization. The results disclose that the PLA nanocomposites with pristine ChNCs and the ones with acetylated ChNCs show completely different nucleation and melting behavior because the role of ChNCs is altered after acetylation. Pristine ChNC acts as inert filler, with weak nucleating activity, while acetylated ChNCs as anti-nucleation agent, restraining crystallization of PLA. Accordingly, the nanocomposites with acetylated ChNCs show melting point depression, with reduced nucleation capability. The recrystallization and self-nucleation, as well as the double-melting behaviors were then studied in terms of acetylation levels of ChNCs and annealing temperatures, in order to better understand the relations between two-phase affinity and PLA chain dynamics. This work provides interesting information around designing thermal properties of the ChNC-filled PLA nanocomposites.

Parametric Analysis of Epoxy/Crumb Rubber Composite by Using Taguchi-GRA Hybrid Technique

Effect of parameters affecting solid particle erosion of crumb rubber epoxy composite is investigated. Five important process parameters—impact velocity, impingement angle, standoff distance, erodent size, and crumb rubber content—are taken into consideration. Erosion rate and erosion efficiency are included as the chief objectives. The Taguchi coupled gray relational analysis type statistical model is implemented to study interaction, parameters’ effect on responses, and optimized parameters. ANOVA and regression model affirmed impingement angle and crumb rubber content play a significant role to minimize the erosion. Validity of the proposed model is justified with the standard probability plot and R² value. A confirmation experiment conducted with A₂B₂C₃D₃E₃ condition registers noticeable enhancement in GRG to the tune of 0.0893.