Abstract:Pulp cellulose fibers were mechanochemical pre-treated to access the filler for thermoplastic composites via melt-processing method. The cost-efficient, 100% bio-based and degradable cellulose/polylactide (PLA) composite materials were manufactured via extrusion blending followed by injection molding. Then, morphology, structure and properties of the ball-milled cellulose and the resultant composite materials were investigated. The results show that the dry ball-milling process turned the cotton-like cellulose fibers into granular microcrystalline celluloses (MCC) physically, which ensures that the pulp celluloses can be used to fill PLA via melt processing method. The impact resistance of cellulose/PLA is improved significantly, compared with that of pure PLA. Also, their impact fractured surfaces illustrate some characteristics of ductile fracture. Addition of the ball-milled celluloses into PLA increases the glass transition temperature and cold crystallization temperature, while decreases the temperature at the maximum decomposition rate, which means that the thermostability of PLA reduces with addition of the cellulose particles.