The plasticization effects of cellulose diacetate composite systems including nanoparticles (montmorillonite, MMT) and plasticizers(diethyl phthalate, DEP) were investigated by the time-temperature superposition technique and viscoelastic modeling. Exhibiting the highest modulus value in the glass state, the viscoelastic modulus of the MMT nanocomposite rapidly decreased above the glass-transition temperature (T g ). The Arrhenius-type activation energy of pristine cellulose acetate showed the lowest value of activation energy and both DEP-plasticized and MMT-reinforced systems exhibited increased values of activation energy. Although the free volume fraction at the T g decreased with the plasticizer content, it increased with the incorporation of MMT, seemingly preventing the polymer chains from being arranged in an ordered structure.

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