Injection moldings of micro fibrillated cellulose reinforced biodegradable PLA

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Recently 'green-composites' have been focused on materials made from plant fibers and bio-based resins. Plant fibers are not only renewable but also have low density and high strength when compared to glass fibers, which are in common use for making FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics). Hence, nano-sized plant fibers are recognized as a potential reinforcing material. Fibrillation of wood pulp fibers (microfibrillated cellulose, MFC) is one of the ways to obtain nano-sized plant fibers. There are many reports describing that mechanical and thermal properties of composites are highly enhanced by utilizing such plant nanofibers as reinforcing material. On the basis of these researches, in this project, we studied the production of MFC reinforced biodegradable PLA mouldings by injection mouldings. The main purpose of this research is to obtain fibrillated wood pulp/PLA nanocomposites by the melt-mixing method and to assure the potential of the nanocomposites for injection moulding.By premixing MFC and PLA in the solvent, we could make well dispersed fiber composites and improve strength and Young's modulus of the composites over the neat PLA. Surface acetylation of MFC was found to be effective to increase interactive forces between cellulose nanofiber and PLA. The addition of acetylated MFC to PLA by 5 wt% improved the Young's modulus and tensile strength of PIA by 25% and 15%, respectively.Finally, we, have succeeded in the injection moulding of MFC reinforced PIA, which showed excellent thermal stability compared to neat PIA mouldings.