Innovative bamboo-plastic composites interfacial compatibility design approach: Self-assembled crosslinked structure of polydopamine with acylated chitin fibers

Achieving interfacial compatibility through sustainable methods is a key objective in natural fiber-plastic composites research, aimed at optimizing mechanical performance. This study introduced an innovative organic bamboo-plastic composite (BPC) interfacial layer, incorporating O-acylated chitin fibers densely coated with polydopamine (PDA) via a mild and facile self-assembly method. Chitin nanofibers were acylated with dodecenylsuccinic anhydride in a deep eutectic solvent in a one-pot process. The resulting BPCs exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical properties, with tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus, and impact strength increased by 73.64 %, 39.19 %, 15.42 %, and 63.57 %, respectively, compared to untreated BPCs. This improvement highlights the effectiveness of tailoring cross-linked networks across heterogeneous interfaces in providing strength, dissipating strain, and promoting interfacial compatibility. Furthermore, these modified BPCs demonstrated enhanced thermal stability, crystallization behavior, and moderate hydrophobicity. This surface treatment strategy offers a distinctive approach to producing high-performance, eco-friendly BPCs, also facilitating the processing and utilization of marine biological resources on a wide scale.