GREEN NANOCOMPOSITES BASED ON LIGNIN COATED CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS AND POLY (LACTIC ACID): CRYSTALLIZATION, MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES

The rising concern towards environmental issues and sustainability increasing interest about polymer composites based on renewable and biodegradable resources. The composites, usually referred to as "green'', can find several biomedical and industrial applications. In case of green nanocomposites has filler phase at least one dimension in the nanometer range. The cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with impressive mechanical properties, annual renewability, abundance, low density and biodegradability make them ideal candidates for the processing of polymer nanocomposites. However, the main barrier in the processing of the nanocomposites based on CNC is their inhomogeneous dispersion and distribution in the non-polar polymer matrix. The strong tendency of CNC to agglomerate, form interconnected networks and additional hydrogen bonds between nanoparticles is in the paper addressed by use of novel hydrophobic lignin coated CNC (LCNC). In this paper effect of 1, 2 and 3 wt. % loading of L-CNC content on to the properties of the green nanocomposites based on poly (lactic acid) (PLA) matrix was investigated. Nanocomposites prepared by twin screw extrusion and injection moulding were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical testing.