Enhancing long-term biodegradability and UV-shielding performances of transparent polylactic acid nanocomposite films by adding cellulose nanocrystal-zinc oxide hybrids

We investigated UV-shielding performances and biodegradation abilities under controlled hydrolytic, soil burial, and thermal conditions of transparent polylactic acids (PLA) nanocomposite films embedded with cellulose nanocrystal-zinc oxide (CNC-ZnO) hybrids. By adding high content of 15wt %CNC-ZnO hybrids into the PLA matrix, the highest UV radiation was blocked out by (85.31%) of UV-A and (95.90%) of UV-B. It is found that the weight loss of PLA nanocomposites after being hydrolytic degraded for 70 days increased from 9% for PLA to 25% with 15 wt% CNC-ZnO hybrids. Meanwhile, in soil burial test, pure PLA shows smallest degradation rate with only 8% weight loss after 110 days, while the PLA nanocomposite film with 15 wt% CNC-ZnO hybrids was degraded by about 28%. Besides, the resultant degradation byproducts from the thermally-decomposed catalysis have been identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Moreover, the morphologies and appearances changes during the hydrolytic and soil degradation of PLA nanocomposite films were evaluated. This study is expected to provide meaningful insights into nanocomposite films embedded with CNC-ZnO hybrids as a result of contourable degradation and high ultraviolet protection factor value (UPF). •Transparent PLA-based nanocomposites reinforced with CNC-ZnO hybrids is proposed.•Biodegradation ability of films at hydrolytic, soil burial, and thermal conditions is enhanced.•Morphologies and appearance changes of films during various degradation is evaluated.•Great improvements in UV-shielding performances of PLA films are achieved.