ABSTRACT
In this work, the properties of cellulose (CE)/xyloglucan (XG) biopolymer blends are investigated, taking inspiration from the outstanding mechanical properties of plant cell walls. CE and XG were first co-solubilized in an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, in order to blend these biopolymers with a varying CE:XG ratio. The biopolymers were then regenerated together using water to produce solid blends in the form of films. Water-soluble XG persisted in the films following regeneration in water, indicating an attractive interaction between the CE and XG. The final CE:XG ratio of the blends was close to the initial value in solutions, further suggesting that intimate mixing takes place between CE and XG. The resulting CE/XG films were found to be free of ionic liquid, transparent and with no evidence of phase separation at the micron scale. The mechanical properties of the blend with a CE:XG ratio close to one revealed a synergistic effect for which a maximum in the elongation and stress at break was observed in combination with a high elastic modulus. Atomic force microscopy indicates a co-continuous nanostructure for this composition. It is proposed that the non-monotonous variation of the mechanical performance of the films with XG content is due to this observed nanostructuration.
ABSTRACT
Cellulose acetate (CA) plasticized by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) and with diethylphtalate (DEP) was obtained by melt processing at 150°C. The effect and the interaction of ionic liquid with the cellulose acetate and their influence on structural, thermo-mechanical, rheological and tensile properties of CA materials were investigated. Ionic liquid (BMIMCl) has shown a good plasticization and more efficient destruction of the crystalline structure of cellulose acetate than the DEP plasticized CA. BMIMCl interacts intensively with CA molecules due to the pronounced van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic nature of ionic liquid. The tensile test and the low Young's modulus for plasticized CA suggest a strong reduction of the interaction between the CA chains due to the presence of the ionic liquid.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present work was to investigate the relationship between the glass transition temperature of the materials produced by the melting method and the water content, as well as the nature and concentration of the plasticizer used. Native starch was successfully treated with ionic liquid to obtain thermoplastic starch (TPS). Ionic liquids have shown a better plasticization, and low absorption of water compared to glycerol, which means a better interaction of starch with ionic liquids. The water binding properties of TPS were studied by commenting the water absorption for the plasticized starch at different % RH and with different ratios of plasticizers. An amount of 22.5 wt% AMIMCl is the maximum that can act as a plasticizer. Above this composition, an increase in the wt% water and wt% AMIMCl induces a phase separation. This value corresponds to a chemical interpretation, which corresponds to a ratio of 1:3 AMIMCl/anhydro-glucose. A schematic representation of the different binding between starch, plasticizer and water has been proposed.
