Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide
This study investigates the suitability of using caffeine-treated and untreated black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh.) wood as a polylactide filler. Composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% filler were investigated in terms of increasing the nucleating ability of polylactide, as well...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/698 |
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| author | Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska Magdalena Woźniak Agata Kaszubowska-Rzepka Marlena Baranowska Anna Sip Izabela Ratajczak Sławomir Borysiak |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska Magdalena Woźniak Agata Kaszubowska-Rzepka Marlena Baranowska Anna Sip Izabela Ratajczak Sławomir Borysiak |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the suitability of using caffeine-treated and untreated black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh.) wood as a polylactide filler. Composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% filler were investigated in terms of increasing the nucleating ability of polylactide, as well as enhancing its resistance to microorganisms. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that the addition of caffeine-treated wood significantly altered the crystallization behavior of the polymer matrix, increasing its crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity. Polarized light microscopic observations revealed that only the caffeine-treated wood induced the formation of transcrystalline structures in the polylactide. Incorporation of the modified filler into the matrix was also responsible for changes in the thermal stability and decreased hydrophilicity of the material. Most importantly, the use of black cherry wood treated with caffeine imparted antifungal properties to the polylactide-based composite, effectively reducing growth of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>, <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>, <i>Alternaria alternata</i>, and <i>Trichoderma viride</i>. For the first time, it was reported that treatment of wood with a caffeine compound of natural origin alters the supermolecular structure, nucleating abilities, and imparts antifungal properties of polylactide/wood composites, providing promising insights into the structure-properties relationship of such composites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:52:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d6677df33ea4601a144bb7a5550fc17 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:52:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d6677df33ea4601a144bb7a5550fc172024-02-09T15:17:46ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442024-02-0117369810.3390/ma17030698Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for PolylactideAleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska0Magdalena Woźniak1Agata Kaszubowska-Rzepka2Marlena Baranowska3Anna Sip4Izabela Ratajczak5Sławomir Borysiak6Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 75, 60-625 Poznan, PolandInstitute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Silviculture, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 42, 60-625 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-625 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 75, 60-625 Poznan, PolandInstitute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, PolandThis study investigates the suitability of using caffeine-treated and untreated black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh.) wood as a polylactide filler. Composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% filler were investigated in terms of increasing the nucleating ability of polylactide, as well as enhancing its resistance to microorganisms. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that the addition of caffeine-treated wood significantly altered the crystallization behavior of the polymer matrix, increasing its crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity. Polarized light microscopic observations revealed that only the caffeine-treated wood induced the formation of transcrystalline structures in the polylactide. Incorporation of the modified filler into the matrix was also responsible for changes in the thermal stability and decreased hydrophilicity of the material. Most importantly, the use of black cherry wood treated with caffeine imparted antifungal properties to the polylactide-based composite, effectively reducing growth of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>, <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>, <i>Alternaria alternata</i>, and <i>Trichoderma viride</i>. For the first time, it was reported that treatment of wood with a caffeine compound of natural origin alters the supermolecular structure, nucleating abilities, and imparts antifungal properties of polylactide/wood composites, providing promising insights into the structure-properties relationship of such composites.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/698polylactidebiocompositeswoodfiller modificationcaffeinestructure |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska Magdalena Woźniak Agata Kaszubowska-Rzepka Marlena Baranowska Anna Sip Izabela Ratajczak Sławomir Borysiak Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide Materials polylactide biocomposites wood filler modification caffeine structure |
| title | Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide |
| title_full | Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide |
| title_short | Enhancing Sustainability and Antifungal Properties of Biodegradable Composites: Caffeine-Treated Wood as a Filler for Polylactide |
| title_sort | enhancing sustainability and antifungal properties of biodegradable composites caffeine treated wood as a filler for polylactide |
| topic | polylactide biocomposites wood filler modification caffeine structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/698 |
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