# A Clean and Sustainable Cellulose-Based Composite Film Reinforced with Waste Plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate

Authors: Airong Xu; Yongxin Wang; Xingmin Xu; Zhihong Xiao; Rukuan Liu
Journal: Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
 (2020)

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## Abstract

With the widespread use and increasing consumption of PET, the amount of waste PET is growing rapidly, and the accompanied environmental problems will become more and more serious. Therefore, the recycling and reuse of PET are of great significance for not only saving resources but also solving environmental issues. In this study, Methylcellulose (MC) composites reinforced with waste plastics polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were prepared by casting an MC/PET solution with a varying mass ratio of MC to PET. Systematic investigations were performed to reveal the effect of the MC/PET mass ratio on the mechanical property, chemical structure, and thermal properties. The resultant findings indicate that the addition of 3% waste plastics PET to MC could notably enhance the tensile strength by about 24% as compared with neat MC. Interestingly, the elongation of the MC/PET composite kept increasing with increasing waste plastics PET. At the same time, thermal compression treatment could also enhance the mechanical properties of the composite. Moreover, the composites also displayed higher thermal stability than MC. In addition, the crystallinity and morphology of the composite were estimated by XRD and SEM.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), an aromatic semicrystalline polymer, has excellent performance characteristics in mechanical strength, inertness to chemical action, resistance to thermal environment, and biocompatibility [1–4]. Based on these excellent performances, PET is widely used for the production of chemical fiber, films, and bottles [5–8]. This polymer has also been employed in medical fields as prosthetic components for producing vascular grafts, aortic root, overdentures, and so on [3]. Interestingly, the properties of PET can be remarkably improved by incorporating nanoscale graphene fillers in PET [9–14]. However, the massive use of PET products also accompanies environmental issues because of unavoidable littering and incinerating after use [15, 16]. In this context, the recovery and reuse of discarded PET products are of particular significance [17]. At present, some research studies have been conducted to fabricate PET-containing composites by blending recovered PET with polypropylene and polyethylene [18–23].In the recent years, increasing attention has been paid to environmental-friendly polymer materials produced from renewable biopolymers because of growing concern about environmental issues caused by petroleum-based products such as PET [24–28]. Methylcellulose (MC) is a biopolymer produced by replacing hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl residues of cellulose backbone by methyl groups [29–31]. Moreover, MC has many attractive properties such as excellent film-making capability, good biodegradability, nontoxicity, and strong mechanical property [31–33]. Based on these excellent properties, MC is widely used in the production of self-repairing coatings, food packaging materials, and high-performance composites [34–37].However, extensive literature consulting reveals that few studies are available on the composite materials which are fabricated with MC and waste PET. Therefore, in this paper, the preparation of an MC/PET composite film was achieved by changing the MC/PET mass ratio. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),13C NMR spectroscopy, and mechanical tests were used to study the microstructure, thermal stability, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of these composite films.


## 2. Experiment Section

### 2.1. Materials and Fabrication of the MC/PET Film

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was taken from a discarded waste bottle. This bottle was cleaned with distilled water and, then, cut into 3 × 3 mm of pieces. Methylcellulose (MC) (viscosity of 1600 cPs) was from Alfa Aesar. Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) (99.5%) was purchased from Aladdin Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd.MC and PET were dissolved in HFIP with mechanical stirring (Magnetic Stirring Apparatus, 98-2, Shanghai Sile Instrument Co., LTD., Shanghai, China) at an ambient temperature to gain an MC/PET/HFIP solution. The total concentration of MC and PET in HFIP was about 1.1 wt.%. Then, the air bubbles in the MC/PET/HFIP solution were removed by using an ultrasonic apparatus for 20 min. Then, the solution was transferred to a glass mold (10 cm × 10 cm). A MC/PET (x : y) film was gained followed by volatilizing HFIP, and x : y was the MC/PET mass ratio. The obtained MC/PET (x : y) film was further dried in a vacuum oven for at 50°C for the complete evaporation of HFIP residual.


### 2.2. Characterization

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the internal micromorphology of the MC/PET film sample. The sample film was frozen in liquid nitrogen and, then, snapped. Before observation, the surface of the frozen fracture was sputtered by gold and, then, photographed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was carried out on a Bruker D8 Advance diffraction spectrometer with Cu-Ka radiation (λ = 1.54′Å) over the range 3–60° (2θ) at a scan speed of 2° (2θ) per minute. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on a Netzsch STA 449 C thermal gravimetric analyzer at a temperature range of 25°C–600°C and a heating rate of 10°C per minute under a nitrogen atmosphere. Solid-state 13C NMR was determined with a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer (Bruker Advance III, Germany).


### 2.3. Measurement of Tensile Strength and Elongation at Break

The sample films were cut into dumbbell-shaped specimens of 75 mm length and, then, kept in a dryer with a saturated NaCl solution (RH = 75%) for 24 h. A WDW-10 universal tensile tester was used to measure the tensile strength and elongation at break according to ISO 527-3, 1995 (E), with an extension rate of 2 mm min−1 and a gauge length of 20 mm. Tensile strength and elongation at break values were averages of five measurements.


## 2.1. Materials and Fabrication of the MC/PET Film

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was taken from a discarded waste bottle. This bottle was cleaned with distilled water and, then, cut into 3 × 3 mm of pieces. Methylcellulose (MC) (viscosity of 1600 cPs) was from Alfa Aesar. Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) (99.5%) was purchased from Aladdin Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd.MC and PET were dissolved in HFIP with mechanical stirring (Magnetic Stirring Apparatus, 98-2, Shanghai Sile Instrument Co., LTD., Shanghai, China) at an ambient temperature to gain an MC/PET/HFIP solution. The total concentration of MC and PET in HFIP was about 1.1 wt.%. Then, the air bubbles in the MC/PET/HFIP solution were removed by using an ultrasonic apparatus for 20 min. Then, the solution was transferred to a glass mold (10 cm × 10 cm). A MC/PET (x : y) film was gained followed by volatilizing HFIP, and x : y was the MC/PET mass ratio. The obtained MC/PET (x : y) film was further dried in a vacuum oven for at 50°C for the complete evaporation of HFIP residual.


## 2.2. Characterization

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the internal micromorphology of the MC/PET film sample. The sample film was frozen in liquid nitrogen and, then, snapped. Before observation, the surface of the frozen fracture was sputtered by gold and, then, photographed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was carried out on a Bruker D8 Advance diffraction spectrometer with Cu-Ka radiation (λ = 1.54′Å) over the range 3–60° (2θ) at a scan speed of 2° (2θ) per minute. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on a Netzsch STA 449 C thermal gravimetric analyzer at a temperature range of 25°C–600°C and a heating rate of 10°C per minute under a nitrogen atmosphere. Solid-state 13C NMR was determined with a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer (Bruker Advance III, Germany).


## 2.3. Measurement of Tensile Strength and Elongation at Break

The sample films were cut into dumbbell-shaped specimens of 75 mm length and, then, kept in a dryer with a saturated NaCl solution (RH = 75%) for 24 h. A WDW-10 universal tensile tester was used to measure the tensile strength and elongation at break according to ISO 527-3, 1995 (E), with an extension rate of 2 mm min−1 and a gauge length of 20 mm. Tensile strength and elongation at break values were averages of five measurements.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Morphology

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the MC and MC/PET films, and SEM images are given in Figure1. It is known that MC is hydrophilic, and hydrophobic for PET. Therefore, MC is not mutually soluble with PET, which has been observed from Figure 1. Different from a neat MC film which shows a homogeneous and dense morphological structure, an obvious phase separation between MC and PET is observed for all the MC/PET films (see Figures 1(b)–1(i)). It can be observed from Figures 1(b) and 1(c) that PET in the MC/PLA (99 : 1) and MC/PLA (97 : 3) films is conglomerated into a very few bead-like shape, and these bead-like PET are distributed throughout the MC matrix phase. By comparison, bigger size of ball-like PET in the MC/PLA (95 : 5), MC/PLA (9 : 1), MC/PLA (7 : 3), MC/PLA (1 : 1), MC/PLA (3 : 7), and MC/PLA (9 : 1) films is covered by a layer of MC (see Figures 1(d)–1(i)).Figure 1
SEM images of fracture surfaces at various magnifications: (a) neat MC film; (b) MC/PET (99 : 1) film; (c) MC/PET (97 : 3) film; (d) MC/PET (95 : 5) film; (e) MC/PET (9 : 1) film. (f) MC/PET (7 : 3) film; (g) MC/PET (1 : 1) film; (h) MC/PET (3 : 7) film; and (i) MC/PET (1 : 9) film.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)


### 3.2.13C NMR Spectroscopy

The solid-state NMR spectra of MC, raw PET, and MC/PET (1 : 1) composite films are shown in Figure2. From the solid-state NMR spectra, it can be seen that the solid NMR spectra of the raw materials MC and PET appear on the solid-state NMR spectra of the MC/PET (1 : 1) composite film, and no other miscellaneous peaks appear. This shows that MC and PET are successfully compounded. There was no chemical reaction between MC and PET and solvent and between MC and PET during the dissolution and regeneration. The dissolution of both MC and PET in the solvent is a physical process.Figure 2
Solid-state13C NMR spectra of MC, MC/PET (1 : 1) film, and PET.


### 3.3. XRD Analysis

The X-ray diffraction patterns can be observed in Figure3 for MC, RPET, and MC/PET films. MC shows two broad bands and, also, good diffraction peaks at 2θ = 8.9° and 19.7° [38, 39], indicating the coexistence of amorphous and crystalline regions in the MC structure. The more broad peaks in the range of 2θ = 12–34ºare attributed to the amorphous PET [3, 40, 41]. In the XRD patterns of the MC/PET composites, the diffraction signal for MC at 8.9° is absent, and the intensity of the diffraction signal at 19.7° is decreased. At the same time, the diffraction signal intensity for PET in the range of 2θ = 12–34° becomes weaker with an increase in the amount of MC in the MC/PET composites. The abovementioned results suggest that the crystallinity of MC and PET is reduced after the hybridization of MC with PET. Moreover, it is also found that compared with neat MC and PET, the 2θ values of MC and PET in the MC/PET films remain invariable, suggesting that MC hardly and/or weakly interacts with PET.Figure 3
XRD patterns of original MC, RPET, and MC/PET films.


### 3.4. Thermogravimetric Analysis

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is known to be an efficient method for estimating the thermal stability of various materials [8, 42]. As such, the TGA curves of the MC/PET films along with RPET and original MC were determined in a nitrogen atmosphere and presented in Figure 4. MC begins to decompose at 343°C and 424°C for RPET. Therefore, RPET shows higher thermal stability than MC. After MC was composited with PET, it was found that the thermal decomposition temperatures of the MC/PET films were higher those of MC (343°C) and lower than those of RPET (424°C) and increased with an increase in the content of PET. The thermal decomposition temperatures were 347°C, 358°C, 359°C, and 363°C, corresponding to MC/PET (9 : 1), MC/PET (7 : 3), MC/PET (1 : 1), and MC/PET (3 : 7), respectively. At the same time, different from RPET and MC which showed one thermal decomposition stage, the MC/PET films displayed three stages of thermal decomposition behavior. The first weight loss within approximately 130°C was the evaluation of moisture. The second stage mainly corresponded to the thermal decomposition of MC, and the third stage primarily for PET. Moreover, due to the higher thermostability of PET and the mutual effect, the thermal decomposition temperatures increased in the order MC/PET (9 : 1) < MC/PET (7 : 3) < MC/PET (1 : 1) < MC/PET (3 : 7).Figure 4
TGA curves of original MC, RPET, and MC/PET films.


### 3.5. MC/PET Mass Ratio Effect on Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break of the neat MC film and MC/PET composite films with different MC/PET mass ratios have been determined, and presented in Figures5 and 6, respectively. The fabricated MC/PET composites show apparently improved mechanical properties compared with neat MC at the mass ratio range from 99 : 1 to 9 : 1. Among them, the MC/PET (97 : 3) film shows maximum tensile strength value, and its tensile strength is higher than that of the neat MC film by about 24%. However, with further increase of the MC/PET mass ratio at the range from 9 : 1 to 1 : 9, the interspaces and stress concentrations increase, which act as crack initiation points during impact that decrease the impact strength after 97 : 3 MC/PET mass ratio. In fact, this has been confirmed by the SEM observation by which when MC/PET mass ratio is equal to or greater than 95 : 5, apparent aggregation and phase separation are observed, producing interspaces and stress concentrations.Figure 5
MC/PET mass ratio (RMC:PET) dependent on tensile strength of the neat MC film and MC/PET films.Figure 6
MC/PET mass ratio (RMC:PET) dependent on breaking elongation of the neat MC film and MC/PET films.Meanwhile, with the increase in the content of PET in the MC/PET composite, the elongation at break keeps increasing. The elongation at break of the MC/PET (1 : 9) composite reaches a maximum value of 79.6% and higher than that of the neat MC film by about 368%. This suggests that PET can considerably improve the toughness of the MC/PET composite.


## 3.1. Morphology

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the MC and MC/PET films, and SEM images are given in Figure1. It is known that MC is hydrophilic, and hydrophobic for PET. Therefore, MC is not mutually soluble with PET, which has been observed from Figure 1. Different from a neat MC film which shows a homogeneous and dense morphological structure, an obvious phase separation between MC and PET is observed for all the MC/PET films (see Figures 1(b)–1(i)). It can be observed from Figures 1(b) and 1(c) that PET in the MC/PLA (99 : 1) and MC/PLA (97 : 3) films is conglomerated into a very few bead-like shape, and these bead-like PET are distributed throughout the MC matrix phase. By comparison, bigger size of ball-like PET in the MC/PLA (95 : 5), MC/PLA (9 : 1), MC/PLA (7 : 3), MC/PLA (1 : 1), MC/PLA (3 : 7), and MC/PLA (9 : 1) films is covered by a layer of MC (see Figures 1(d)–1(i)).Figure 1
SEM images of fracture surfaces at various magnifications: (a) neat MC film; (b) MC/PET (99 : 1) film; (c) MC/PET (97 : 3) film; (d) MC/PET (95 : 5) film; (e) MC/PET (9 : 1) film. (f) MC/PET (7 : 3) film; (g) MC/PET (1 : 1) film; (h) MC/PET (3 : 7) film; and (i) MC/PET (1 : 9) film.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)


## 3.2.13C NMR Spectroscopy

The solid-state NMR spectra of MC, raw PET, and MC/PET (1 : 1) composite films are shown in Figure2. From the solid-state NMR spectra, it can be seen that the solid NMR spectra of the raw materials MC and PET appear on the solid-state NMR spectra of the MC/PET (1 : 1) composite film, and no other miscellaneous peaks appear. This shows that MC and PET are successfully compounded. There was no chemical reaction between MC and PET and solvent and between MC and PET during the dissolution and regeneration. The dissolution of both MC and PET in the solvent is a physical process.Figure 2
Solid-state13C NMR spectra of MC, MC/PET (1 : 1) film, and PET.


## 3.3. XRD Analysis

The X-ray diffraction patterns can be observed in Figure3 for MC, RPET, and MC/PET films. MC shows two broad bands and, also, good diffraction peaks at 2θ = 8.9° and 19.7° [38, 39], indicating the coexistence of amorphous and crystalline regions in the MC structure. The more broad peaks in the range of 2θ = 12–34ºare attributed to the amorphous PET [3, 40, 41]. In the XRD patterns of the MC/PET composites, the diffraction signal for MC at 8.9° is absent, and the intensity of the diffraction signal at 19.7° is decreased. At the same time, the diffraction signal intensity for PET in the range of 2θ = 12–34° becomes weaker with an increase in the amount of MC in the MC/PET composites. The abovementioned results suggest that the crystallinity of MC and PET is reduced after the hybridization of MC with PET. Moreover, it is also found that compared with neat MC and PET, the 2θ values of MC and PET in the MC/PET films remain invariable, suggesting that MC hardly and/or weakly interacts with PET.Figure 3
XRD patterns of original MC, RPET, and MC/PET films.


## 3.4. Thermogravimetric Analysis

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is known to be an efficient method for estimating the thermal stability of various materials [8, 42]. As such, the TGA curves of the MC/PET films along with RPET and original MC were determined in a nitrogen atmosphere and presented in Figure 4. MC begins to decompose at 343°C and 424°C for RPET. Therefore, RPET shows higher thermal stability than MC. After MC was composited with PET, it was found that the thermal decomposition temperatures of the MC/PET films were higher those of MC (343°C) and lower than those of RPET (424°C) and increased with an increase in the content of PET. The thermal decomposition temperatures were 347°C, 358°C, 359°C, and 363°C, corresponding to MC/PET (9 : 1), MC/PET (7 : 3), MC/PET (1 : 1), and MC/PET (3 : 7), respectively. At the same time, different from RPET and MC which showed one thermal decomposition stage, the MC/PET films displayed three stages of thermal decomposition behavior. The first weight loss within approximately 130°C was the evaluation of moisture. The second stage mainly corresponded to the thermal decomposition of MC, and the third stage primarily for PET. Moreover, due to the higher thermostability of PET and the mutual effect, the thermal decomposition temperatures increased in the order MC/PET (9 : 1) < MC/PET (7 : 3) < MC/PET (1 : 1) < MC/PET (3 : 7).Figure 4
TGA curves of original MC, RPET, and MC/PET films.


## 3.5. MC/PET Mass Ratio Effect on Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break of the neat MC film and MC/PET composite films with different MC/PET mass ratios have been determined, and presented in Figures5 and 6, respectively. The fabricated MC/PET composites show apparently improved mechanical properties compared with neat MC at the mass ratio range from 99 : 1 to 9 : 1. Among them, the MC/PET (97 : 3) film shows maximum tensile strength value, and its tensile strength is higher than that of the neat MC film by about 24%. However, with further increase of the MC/PET mass ratio at the range from 9 : 1 to 1 : 9, the interspaces and stress concentrations increase, which act as crack initiation points during impact that decrease the impact strength after 97 : 3 MC/PET mass ratio. In fact, this has been confirmed by the SEM observation by which when MC/PET mass ratio is equal to or greater than 95 : 5, apparent aggregation and phase separation are observed, producing interspaces and stress concentrations.Figure 5
MC/PET mass ratio (RMC:PET) dependent on tensile strength of the neat MC film and MC/PET films.Figure 6
MC/PET mass ratio (RMC:PET) dependent on breaking elongation of the neat MC film and MC/PET films.Meanwhile, with the increase in the content of PET in the MC/PET composite, the elongation at break keeps increasing. The elongation at break of the MC/PET (1 : 9) composite reaches a maximum value of 79.6% and higher than that of the neat MC film by about 368%. This suggests that PET can considerably improve the toughness of the MC/PET composite.


## 4. Conclusions

This work presents a facile approach to fabricate an MC/PET composite using MC and waste plastic PET. The morphologies and properties are significantly affected by the MC/PET mass ratio. 3% of PET loading can considerably improve the tensile strength, and the elongation at break evidently increases with the MC/PET mass ratio. The crystallinities of MC and PET in the composites obviously decrease as compared with original MC and PET. The composite is thermally enough stable, and the thermal decomposition temperature ranges between 343°C and 424°C. From13C NMR, it has been found that MC is physically blended with PET. The current findings open up new horizons for the application of waste plastics in fabricating ecofriendly sustainable green products.



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*Source: 7323521-2020-07-18.xml*