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Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer which has a great potential to be used in various application. However, due to its disadvantages such as poor toughness and brittleness, the usage of PLA is limited. The objective of this work is to improve the toughness and reduce the brittleness of PLA with the addition of liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR) and graphene oxide (GO). PLA/LENR/GO blend was prepared by using melt blending method with a speed of 60 rpm under 160 °C for 6 min. The blend was prepared in an internal mixer. The wt% of LENR was varied from 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% while the GO loading was varied from 0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 phr. The blended compound then was moulded into test sample using compression moulding. The optimum impact strength was recorded at 10 wt% of LENR which is 86.05 J/m compared to only 40.88 J/m for PLA alone. Addition of 1.5 phr GO showed the highest impact strength which is 153.13 J/m. As the GO loading increased, the degradation temperature (Tdeg) increased accordingly due to the presence of GO which acted to slow down the rate of degradation. Glass transition, melting and cold crystallization temperature of the composite decreased with increasing of GO content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of regenerated cellulose (RC) derived from underutilized cellulosic biomass has recently gained attention as potential petroleum-based polymer replacers. The objective of this current work is to evaluate the properties of RC films obtained from oil palm empty fruit bunch microcrystalline cellulose (OPEFB-MCC) through environmental process. The RC films were fabricated by using different amounts of OPEFB-MCC (4, 6 and 8%) and 1-butyl-3- methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) was used as green OPEFB-MCC dissolving medium. The resultant RC films were then characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, mechanical, thermal and morphological properties by using tensile test, differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. Increase in OPEFB-MCC amounts from 4 to 8% enhanced the tensile strength and elongation at break of RC by 101 and 78%, respectively, indicating stronger and more flexible films were formed. It is interesting to note that the Tg (101-154 °C) and Tm(130-187 °C) were found shifted to higher temperature with higher proportions of OPEFB-MCC in RC films. Meanwhile, FTIR analysis showed no new peak presented in RC films, suggesting that BMIMCl is a non-derivatizing solvent to OPEFB-MCC. Conspicuous changes in the spectra of RC films compared to OPEFB-MCC at 3200-3600 cm-1, 1430 cm-1, 1162 cm-1, 1111 cm-1, 1020-1040 cm-1 and 896 cm-1 were associated with transformation of cellulose I to cellulose II structure or/and decrease in crystallinity occurred after regeneration process. SEM micrographs of the RC films revealed that higher OPEFB-MCC contents exhibited smoother and more homogeneous surfaces morphology. Overall, OPEFB-MCC exhibited good film forming ability for RC production and may offer potential application in various industries including food packaging, medical goods and electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]