Preparation and characterization of dialdehyde cellulose/polylactic acid blends

Abstract

In recent years, the demand for naturally derived synthetic materials to protect the environment has increased. Cellulosic polymers are renewable, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and possess high strength and stiffness. As a result of the researches, the use of polylactic acid (PLA) instead of petroleum-based polymers stands out as an alternative. In this study, dialdehyde cellulose (DAC)/polylactic acid (PLA) mixtures were prepared. DAC was prepared by peroxide oxidation from microcrystalline cellulose. Firstly, DAC was blended with PLA. In addition to having hydrophilic properties of DAC, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added to increase compatibility between PLA and DAC, as PLA was known to have hydrophobic properties.The blends were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal analysis (TGA and DTG) techniques. Besides, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the polymer blends obtained were interpreted.