Multiple noncovalent interactions tailored crystallization and performance reinforcement mechanisms of Biopolyester Composites with functional Cellulose Nanocrystals

The slow crystallization and weak mechanical features of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) have become a severe industrial problem in food packaging. Inspired by principle of bionic structure, functional cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) modified with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) can enhance the crystallization ability and mechanical properties of PBAT nanocomposites. Significantly, CNC-T (CNC modified by TDI) showed a stronger reinforced effect on PBAT properties than unmodified CNCs and CNC-H (CNC modified by HMDI) nanofillers due to hydrogen bonds, π-π interaction between PBAT matrix and CNC-T nanofillers with benzene ring structure. Thus, compared with pure PBAT, PBAT/5CNC-T composites displayed an enhancement of 34.5 % on the tensile strength and exhibited the most robust nucleation ability on PBAT crystallization than CNC and CNC-H. Meanwhile, the possible nucleation, crystallization, and performance reinforcement mechanisms of PBAT nanocomposites have been presented, which is very beneficial for designing robust PBAT nanocomposites with functional cellulose nanocrystals for potential green packaging.