Preparation of amino-functionalized microcrystalline cellulose from Arundo Donax L. and its effect on the curing behavior of bisphenol A-based benzoxazine

In this paper, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was extracted from Arundo donax L. (AD), using acid hydrolysis method, and successfully functionalized with amine groups. The structure, morphology and crystallinity of the unmodified and modified MCCs were investigated. Subsequently, the amino-functionalized MCC (MCCA) at different ratios was employed as a reinforcement of bisphenol A aniline based benzoxazine (BA-a), and the curing kinetics of the as-prepared composites were studied by two isoconversional integral methods. The kinetic triplet was determined. The MCCA-based composites showed a single curing stage relative to the complex polymerization process of pure BA-a. Interestingly, the average activation energy and decimal logarithm of preexponential factor of the cure process decreased respectively from 89 kJ/mol and 6.95 for BA-a to 80 kJ/mol and 6.05 with the incorporation of 15 % (wt.) MCCA. The studied systems followed an Avrami-Erofeev reaction mechanism, which reflects the autocatalytic polymerization behavior of BA-a.

Automated summary

Microcrystalline cellulose was extracted from Arundo donax L. and functionalized with amine groups to reinforce bisphenol A aniline based benzoxazine. The incorporation of amino-functionalized MCC led to a decrease in activation energy and preexponential factor of the cure process. The systems studied followed an Avrami-Erofeev reaction mechanism, indicating autocatalytic polymerization behavior.