3D co-continuous polylactide/cellulose composite foam prepared using directional crystallization

초록

The environmental concerns associated with non-biodegradable plastic foams have motivated a large volume of research into sustainable alternatives. Biodegradable polymers such as polylactide (PLA) have been considered for this purpose, but progress on processing methods and their properties has been limited by their poor foaming properties. This investigation presents, for the first time, a crystallization-based method to create a novel 3D cocontinuous composite foam consisting of PLA and cellulose with a unique open-pore structure. The cellulose is derived from discarded coffee grounds. The 3D co-continuous structure successfully provided composites with excellent performance without the need for interface engineering. Mechanical tests show a significant improvement in the properties of composite foam, including Young's modulus (6.7 times) and yield strength (4.7 times). Thermal analysis showed that the foam's resistance to oxidative degradation improved with PLA incorporation. Both RCG and PLA/RCG foams demonstrated full degradability in soil over nine months, emphasizing their environmental benefits. Therefore, the proposed material can be a future foam with outstanding characteristics as a sustainable solution that can solve environmental problems related to traditional materials.

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