Effect of Radiation Crosslinking and Surface Modification of Cellulose Fibers on Properties and Characterization of Biopolymer Composites

Recently, polymers have become the fastest growing and most widely used material in a huge number of applications in almost all areas of industry. In addition to standard polymer composites with synthetic matrices, biopolymer composites based on PLA and PHB matrices filled with fibers of plant origin are now increasingly being used in selected advanced industrial applications. The article deals with the evaluation of the influence and effect of the type of surface modification of cellulose fibers using physical methods (low-temperature plasma and ozone application) and chemical methods (acetylation) on the final properties of biopolymer composites. In addition to the surface modification of natural fibers, an additional modification of biocomposite structural systems by radiation crosslinking using gamma radiation was also used. The components of the biopolymer composite were a matrix of PLA and PHBV and the filler was natural cellulose fibers in a constant percentage volume of 20%. Test specimens were made from compounds of prepared biopolymer structures, on which selected tests had been performed to evaluate the properties and mechanical characterization of biopolymer composites. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the failure and characterization of fracture surfaces of biocomposites.