Journal
NANOMATERIALS
Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nano11020490
Keywords
cellulose nanocomposite; ice-templating; interface; orientation; mechanical properties
Categories
Funding
- Business Finland [1841/31/2014]
- Centre for Material Analysis, University of Oulu, Finland
- Bio4Energy project [20190363]
- Swedish Research Council [2018-07152]
- Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems [2018-04969]
- Formas [2019-02496]
- WAXS analysis at RISE
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study successfully prepared cellulose nanocomposites with an oriented structure and a strong fiber-matrix interface using ice-templating and chemical vapor deposition methods.
Finding renewable alternatives to the commonly used reinforcement materials in composites is attracting a significant amount of research interest. Nanocellulose is a promising candidate owing to its wide availability and favorable properties such as high Young's modulus. This study addressed the major problems inherent to cellulose nanocomposites, namely, controlling the fiber structure and obtaining a sufficient interfacial adhesion between nanocellulose and a non-hydrophilic matrix. Unidirectionally aligned cellulose nanofiber filament mats were obtained via ice-templating, and chemical vapor deposition was used to cover the filament surfaces with an aminosilane before impregnating the mats with a bio-epoxy resin. The process resulted in cellulose nanocomposites with an oriented structure and a strong fiber-matrix interface. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed the presence of silane on the filaments. The improved interface, resulting from the surface treatment, was observable in electron microscopy images and was further confirmed by the significant increase in the tan delta peak temperature. The storage modulus of the matrix could be improved up to 2.5-fold with 18 wt% filament content and was significantly higher in the filament direction. Wide-angle X-ray scattering was used to study the orientation of cellulose nanofibers in the filament mats and the composites, and the corresponding orientation indices were 0.6 and 0.53, respectively, indicating a significant level of alignment.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available