Preparation and properties of modified holocellulose‐reinforced poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(butylene adipate‐ <i>co</i> ‐terephthalate) composites

Abstract Holocellulose was modified by lauric acid to prepare holocellulose laurate (HL), which was further melt‐blended with poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and poly(butylene adipate‐ co ‐terephthalate) (PBAT) to produce the HL/PPC/PBAT composite. The composite was characterized in detail, and the results indicated that the compatibility among the components was improved due to the addition of HL. The properties of the HL/PPC/PBAT composites were investigated by varying the amount of HL, and good comprehensive properties were observed when 13 wt % HL was used. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus were 7.28 MPa, 44.47%, and 48.80 MPa, respectively. The hydrophobicity, gas barrier properties, biodegradation properties, and preservation properties were also enhanced by adding HL. Compared with PPC/PBAT, the elastic modulus, contact angle, and biodegradation rate of the composite increased by 5.19%, 10.46%, and 26.58%, while the water vapor transmission and oxygen permeability were reduced by 15.7% and 22.6%, respectively. Moreover, the preservation property of the composite was close to that of the commercial polyethylene cling film. Therefore, the HL/PPC/PBAT composite had promising application prospects in the degradable packaging field. The application of holocellulose as the filler for degradable materials not only expands the potential application of lignocellulosic biomass but also reduces the environmental pollution caused by petroleum‐based plastics.