Functionalization, Compatibilization and Properties of Biodegradable Polymer Composites with Cellulosic Fibres

The present lecture is aimed at analysing the effect of functionalization and reactive mixing processes in the melt of composites of polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), Mater-Bi (MB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers - and their blends - with natural fibres (cellulose, hemp, etc.) on the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties. Polymer matrices and fibres were modified by means of grafting with bi-functional reactive monomers, such as glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), maleic anhydride (MA) and acetic anhydride. Both binary and ternary composite systems, containing modified components or compatibilized with functionalized copolymers, were obtained by using different mixing procedures. The effect of polymer and/or fibre functionalization, compatibilizer addition and composition on the composite properties was analysed by SEM, OM, RX, FT-IR, DMTA, DSC, TGA, rheological and tensile mechanical tests.