MECHANICAL, RHEOLOGICAL AND THERMAL EVALUATION OF POLY(LACTIC ACID) (PLA)/MICRO FIBRILLATED CELLULOSE (MFC) PLASTICIZED BIOCOMPOSITES PRODUCED WITH FLAT DIE EXTRUSION AND CALENDERING

The use of Micro Fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) as filler for polymeric matrices attempts an increasing interest both in academia and industry. In this framework, encouraging results have been obtained using plasticizers, as dispersing aids, during twin-screw extrusion that optimizes the process parameters and avoid MFC agglomeration. In this work, two commercial typologies of waterborne solution of MFC (Exilva and Celish) were melt-compounded in a PLA matrix through semi-industrial twin-screw extruder and calendered, producing films of 150 μm thickness. These films were mechanically and thermally characterized, moreover the migration of the plasticizer along the time was evaluated through ana…