Reinforcement effect of poly (methyl methacrylate)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-cellulose nanofibers on LDPE/thermoplastic starch composites: preparation and characterization

The effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and poly methyl methacrylate (MMA)]-grafted cellulose nanofibers (CNF-g-PMMA) on mechanical properties and degradability of a 75/25 low density polyethylene/thermoplastic starch (LDPE/TPS) blend was investigated. Graft copolymerization on CNFs was performed in an aqueous suspension by free radical polymerization using MMA as an acrylic monomer. In addition, a LDPE/TPS blend was reinforced by different amounts of CNFs (1–5 wt%) and CNF-g-PMMA (1–7 wt%) using a twin-screw extruder. A 61% grafting of PMMA on the surface of CNFs was demonstrated by gravimetric analysis. Moreover, after modification the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed a 20% increase of carbon atoms on the surface of CNFs and a 22.6% decrease in the oxygen content of its surface. The mechanical properties of the CNFs-modified composites were significantly improved compared to the unmodified nanocomposites. The highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus were obtained for the composites reinforced by 3 and 7 wt% CNF-g-PMMA, respectively. The degradability of cellulose nanocomposites was studied by water absorption and soil burial tests. Surface modification of CNFs lowered water absorption, and soil burial test of the LDPE/TPS blend showed improvement in biodegradability by addition of CNF-g-PMMA.