Bulk composites from microfibrillated cellulose-reinforced thermoset starch made from enzymatically degraded allyl glycidyl ether-modified starch

Microfibrillated cellulose consists of nanoscale bundles of elementary microfibrils prepared, e.g. by the defibrillation of delignified wood pulp fibres in high-pressure homogenizers. In this study, microfibrillated cellulose was used to reinforce a thermoset starch plastic. The starch was modified with allyl glycidyl ether with a degree of substitution of 1.3, which was further hydrolyzed with α-amylase for 18 h yielding significantly improved processing properties. Dry premixes of all constituents were prepared by a stepwise drying process before sample manufacturing. The composite was cured by ethylene glycol dimethacrylate initiated with benzoyl peroxide during compression moulding at 150°C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed some degree of porosity in the samples, where the dispersed microfibrillated cellulose network was detectable. Microfibrillated cellulose, even in relatively small additions (2 wt%, 5 wt% and 10 wt%), resulted in composites with rather good hygromechanical properties. The ultimate strength increased with microfibrillated cellulose content and reached values of comparable composites with 40 wt% softwood fibre. Importantly, the dimensional stability in water was much improved compared to similar composites reinforced with substantially larger weight fractions of softwood fibres.