Physico-mechanical and thermal properties of epoxidized natural rubber/polylactide (ENR/PLA) composites reinforced with lignocellulose

The aim of the study was to prepare elastic composites of epoxidized natural rubber with polylactide that was reinforced with lignocellulose. To improve the functional properties of an ENR/PLA blend, we used lignocellulose modified with silanes and silica. The addition of silanes, particularly U511-tetraethoxysilane, improved the strength characteristics of ENR/PLA composites, which were primarily shown as a considerable improvement in the elasticity of these materials. According to the thermogravimetric analysis and its derivative and differential scanning calorimetry curves for lignocellulose before and after modification with silane, changes were verified in its thermal profiles. Based on the tests of accelerated ageing, it is observed that all of the ENR/PLA composites with lignocellulose are characterized by a great degradability. The ageing coefficient (K) and parameters of oxidation induction time (OIT/DSC) show that the modification of lignocellulose with silanes increases the resistance of these materials to the action of climatic conditions, particularly UV radiation at 340 nm.