Lignin has attracted particular interest for the preparation of functional polymers, and the dispersion and compatibility of lignin in a polymer are key parameters determining properties. In this work, the Pickering emulsion template method was used to introduce lignin nanoparticles into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with improved dispersion. The effect of lignin as the stabilizer of Pickering emulsions was studied in the paper as well as its influence on the thermal, rheological and mechanical properties of the blends prepared. The obtained PLA/lignin films had reduced light transmission in the UV light region, and Young's modulus of PLA/lignin blends increased, while their tensile strength and elongation-at-break decreased as compared to neat PLA film. The introduction of lignin improved crystallinity of PLA from 7.5% to over 15%, and increased its decomposition temperature by about 10 °C. The lignin in the blends prepared by the Pickering emulsion template approach had much larger load bearing capacity than the dispersed lignin particles in the usual melt blended material, because of better dispersion and smaller particles. All the results indicated that the Pickering emulsion template method improves the dispersion of lignin (over 5.0 wt%) in PLA and improve UV protection, crystallinity, decomposition temperature and Young's modulus of PLA, which had an advantage in industrial applications.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were evenly dispersed into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) via the Pickering emulsion approach. The PLA/CNC composites prepared were studied by rheological, thermal as well as mechanical measurements. Changes in the rheological characteristics of the composites showed that CNC promoted the transition of the composites from fluid to solid-like behavior at high temperatures. The introduction of 5 wt% CNC improved the crystallinity of PLA considerably and increased the onset temperature of crystallization by about 10 °C. The storage modulus of the composites increased throughout the entire temperature range of testing. Flexural modulus was improved considerably. All the results indicated that the Pickering emulsion approach improves the dispersion of CNC in the PLA matrix and CNC improves efficiently most properties of PLA.
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