Influence of Natural Fillers on Thermal and Mechanical Properties and Surface Morphology of Cellulose Acetate-Based Biocomposites

Abstract

In the present study, the influence of adding natural fillers to a cellulose acetate (CA) matrix, in order to develop biocomposites, on the properties of the achieved materials has been investigated. Extracted wood flour, holocellulose, and alpha cellulose were used as appropriate fillers. The results of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the fillers and biocomposites suggested the importance of the degree of degradation of filler properties, induced by the chemical treatment necessary for the preparation of the fillers, with emphasis on the content of lignin and the degradation of cellulose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical analysis revealed that the matrix-filler ratio had a major effect on the prepared CA-based biocomposites, since polarity differences between the two major components caused the reduction of attractive forces in the matrix-filler relation, subsequently altering the properties of the developed materials.