Nano Crystalline Cellulose as Modifier of Poly Lactic Acid Foams

Nano crystalline cellulose (NCC) was used to modify the structural properties of poly lactic acid (PLA) foams. The cellular structures obtained from neat PLA and PLA/NCC foams were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated that cell density increased and cell size decreased in the presence of NCC and under the same foaming conditions. PLA included NCC foams had more uniform cell size distribution than PLA foams. PLA/NCC foams with 5 percent NCC had the smallest cell size of 10.6μm and the highest cell density of 109cells/cm3. Increasing NCC addition from 5 to 10 percent had no significant effect on the cell density

Keywords:

Cellulose , Foam , Nanocrystalline , Poly lactic acid ,