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2026 Vol.58, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original Paper

Preparation of Hydrophobic Cellulose Composites via Carbonation and Their Application in PLA-Based Biocomposites

탄산화 반응 기반 소수성 셀룰로오스 복합체 제조 및 PLA 바이오 복합소재로의 적용

Seokhwan Yoon1
,
Mingyu Hwang1
,
Jimin Park2
,
Kyeongbin Nam1
,
Kangryeol Seo2
,
Jungsoo Han3†
,
Yangxiaozhe Jiang4‡
윤 석환1
,
황 민규1
,
박 지민2
,
남 경빈1
,
서 강렬2
,
한 정수3†
,
장 양소철4‡
1Department of Biobased Materials, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University
2Department of Biobased Materials, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University
3Department of Biobased Materials, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University
4Institute of Agricultural Life and Science, Chungnam National University
1충남대학교 농업생명과학대학 환경소재공학과, 석사과정
2충남대학교 농업생명과학대학 환경소재공학과, 학부생
3충남대학교 농업생명과학대학 환경소재공학과, 조교수
4충남대학교 농업과학연구소, 박사후연구원
†Corresponding Author: E-mail: han1606@cnu.ac.kr (Address: Department of Biobased Materials, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea)
‡Co-Corresponding Author: E-mail: aishanjyxz@naver.com (Address: Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea)
30 August 2026. pp. 62-75
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Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with notable environmental benefits; however, its inherent brittleness limits its broader application. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) has been widely investigated as a reinforcing filler owing to its high strength and stiffness; however, the poor interfacial compatibility between hydrophilic MFC and hydrophobic PLA typically leads to filler agglomeration and inefficient stress transfer. Herein, MFC was modified using in situ-synthesized CaCO3 followed by fatty-acid treatment to improve its compatibility with PLA. The resulting MFC–CaCO3 composite filler was incorporated into PLA, and its influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting composites was evaluated. The incorporation of MFC–CaCO3 markedly enhanced the tensile properties of PLA compared with those of pristine PLA and PLA–MFC composites. Fracture surface analysis revealed more uniform filler dispersion and stronger interfacial adhesion, indicating more effective stress transfer between the composite filler and the PLA matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a slight reduction in thermal stability, which was attributed to alkaline CaCO3, which catalyzed the degradation of PLA ester bonds at high temperatures. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that improved interfacial interactions restricted PLA chain mobility, leading to reduced crystallinity and a shift in the cold crystallization peak toward high temperatures. These findings demonstrate that the surface-engineered MFC–CaCO3 composite filler effectively mitigates the interfacial incompatibility between hydrophilic MFC and hydrophobic PLA, providing a promising strategy for reinforcing PLA-based composites.

Keywords
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)
microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)
calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
in-situ synthesis
fatty acid modification
biocomposites
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Information
  • Publisher :Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국펄프종이공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea TAPPI
  • Journal Title(Ko) :펄프종이기술
  • Volume : 58
  • No :4
  • Pages :62-75
  • Received Date : 2026-06-30
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-31
  • Accepted Date : 2026-08-05
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2026.8.58.4.62
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