The goal of this work was to investigate the production and properties of composites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The composites were obtained by solution casting in the film form, with different amounts of cellulose. In this experiment, MCC was previously swollen in water and then dried by lyophilization. Swelling was aimed at allowing the PLA chains to penetrate between cellulose particles. The effects from the contents and swelling of cellulose were evaluated with regard to its dispersal in the matrix, crystallinity and strain mechanical properties. The materials employed and the resulting films were investigated according to their mechanical properties and by using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results indicate that the MCC treatment by swelling/lyophilization led to films with better load dispersion in the matrix and better mechanical performance compared with films obtained with non-treated MCC.
Cellulose; nuclear relaxation; NMR
