Preparation and characterization of plasticized cellulose acetate biocomposite with natural fiber

Abstract

Biodegradable polymers such as poly (hydroxybutyrate)[1, 2], poly (ε-caprolactone), polylactide [3], biodegradable aliphatic polyesters [4–6], and bio-based composite materials have been investigated to reduce environmental problems caused by plastic wastes, since they have low manufacturing costs and easy processibility in large-scale production. Among these biodegradable polymers or bio-based polymer products, cellulose from trees are found to be the most attractive substitute for petroleum feedstock in making plastics for the consumer market [7]. Cellulose plastics, such as cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate propionate, and cellulose acetate butyrate, are thermoplastic materials produced through the esterification of cellulose. A variety of raw materials such as cotton, recycled paper, wood cellulose, and sugarcane are used in making cellulose ester biopolymers in powder form. In processing polymer