Biodegradable Composites Based on Poly(ε-Caprolactone) and Bacterial Cellulose as a Reinforcing Agent

Bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicles produced from Acetobacter xylinum culture were used as a reinforcing agent for biodegradable composites with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) as a matrix. BC prepared in both particulate bacterial cellulose (PBC) and fibrous freeze-dried bacterial cellulose (FBC) states was melt-compounded with PCL. Thermal analysis was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mechanical properties were assessed by tensile tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed a significant improvement in mechanical properties of PCL through the addition of both PBC and FBC, with the latter giving better mechanical properties compared with PBC. PCL/FBC composites, based on high-aspect ratio cellulose nanofibres, showed higher tensile strength and strain at break than particulate PCL/PBC while modulus was similar for both types of composites.