The transparency and mechanical properties of cellulose acetate nanocomposites using cellulose nanowhiskers as fillers

Zhen Yu Yang, Wen Jun Wang*, Zi Qiang Shao, Hai Dong Zhu, Yong Hong Li, Fei Jun Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were chemically modified by acetylating to obtain acetylated cellulose nanowhiskers (ACNWs) which could be well dispersed in acetone. The chemical modification was limited only on the surface of CNWs which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface substitution degree of ACNWs was evaluated to be 0. 45 through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Fully bioresource-based nanocomposite films were manufactured by incorporation of ACNWs into cellulose acetate (CA) using a casting/evaporation technique. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) demonstrated that ACNWs dispersed well in the CA matrix, which resulted in high transparency of all CA nanocomposites. The tensile strength, Young's modulus and strain at break of all CA nanocomposites exhibited simultaneous increase in comparison with neat CA matrix. At the content of 4. 5 wt% ACNWs, the tensile strength, Young's modulus and strain at break of the CA nanocomposite film were increased by 9, 39, and 44 % respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-168
Number of pages10
JournalCellulose
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2013

Keywords

  • Acetylation
  • Cellulose acetate (CA)
  • Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs)
  • Mechanical properties
  • Nanocomposites

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