Water proof and strength retention properties of thermoplastic starch based biocomposites modified with glutaraldehyde.

Water proof and strength retention properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS) resins were successfully improved by reacting glutaraldehyde (GA) with starch molecules during their gelatinization processes. Tensile strength (σf) values of initial and aged TPS100BC0.02GAx and (TPS100BC0.02GAx)75PLA25 specimens improved significantly to a maximal value as GA contents approached an optimal value, while their moisture content and elongation at break values reduced to a minimal value, respectively, as GA contents approached the optimal value. The σf retention values of (TPS100BC0.02GA0.5)75PLA25 specimen aged for 56 days are more than 50 times higher than those of corresponding aged TPS and TPS100BC0.02 specimens, respectively. New melting endotherms and diffraction peaks of VH-type starch crystals were found on DSC thermograms and WAXD patterns of aged TPS or TPS100BC0.02 specimens, respectively, while negligible retrogradation effect was found for most aged TPS100BC0.02GAx and/or (TPS100BC0.02GAx)75PLA25 specimens.

Ultradrawing novel ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers filled with bacterial cellulose nanofibers.

Novel ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/bacterial cellulose (BC) (F100BCy) and UHMWPE/modified bacterial cellulose (MBC) (F100MBCx-y) as-prepared fibers were prepared and ultra-drawn. The achievable draw ratio (Dra) values of each F100MBCx-y as-prepared fiber series specimens approached a maximum value as their MBC contents reached the optimal value at 0.0625phr. In which, the maximum Dra value obtained for F100MBCx-0.0625 as-prepared fiber specimen prepared at the optimal MBC content reached another maximum value at 347 as the weight ratio of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene to BC approach an optimal value at 10. In contrast, no significant improvement in Dra values was found for F100BCy as-prepared fiber specimens. To understand these interesting ultradrawing properties described above, Fourier transform infra-red, specific surface areas, and transmission electron microcopic analyses of original and modified BC nanofibers together with the thermal, orientation and tensile properties of F100BCy and F100MBCx-y fiber specimens were performed.