Fast and simple construction of composite films with renewable Eucommia ulmoides gum and Poly(ε-caprolactone)

• Published in: Composites science and technology 2019-07, Vol.179, p.145-151
• Main Authors: Yue, Pan-Pan, Leng, Ze-Jian, Bian, Jing, Li, Ming-Fei, Peng, Feng, Sun, Run-Cang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composite films; Composite materials; Degradation; Elongation; Eucommia ulmoides gum; Flux density; Fourier transforms; Hydrophobicity; Infrared spectroscopy; Mechanical properties; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Poly(ε-caprolactone); Polycaprolactone; Studies; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Thin films; Toughness; Water vapor
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.05.010

Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a degradable, promising and “green” feedstock, can be used to fabricate composite films by a rapid and simple solution casting method, which have characteristics of degradability, hydrophobicity, strength, and toughness. Herein, EUG was extracted with petroleum ether from seed coats of Eucommia ulmoides and characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The FT-IR and NMR revealed that the construction of the EUG and PCL of composite films are a physical blending process. Besides, the addition of PCL effectively enhances the thermal stability of composite films. The concentration of PCL is 0.84 wt% in composite film (P0.84 wt%), which exhibits an excellent elongation at break and energy density at break of 514.3% and 106.4 MJ/m3, respectively. The maximum tensile strength of the resultant film is 1.8 times higher than that of the control film. The hydrophobicity and water vapor barrier property of P0.84 wt% film is increased by 26.6% and 84.0%, respectively, than that of the control film. It is believed this work provided a rapid and simple strategy to fabricate degradable, strong, and tough film. [Display omitted]