Rheological and thermal characteristics of three-phase eco-composites

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rheological and thermal properties of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) composites incorporated with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and lignin. The MCC/lignin/PLA composites were fabricated through direct melt compounding. In particular, the effect regarding the addition of MCC was analyzed from a rheological perspective. Additionally, the morphological properties of the composite were explored via SEM observation. From the thermal analysis, it revealed that well-dispersed MCC at the nanoscale level increased cold crystallization temperature and that the addition of lignin enhanced the thermal stability of composites. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.