Journal
CELLULOSE
Volume 19, Issue 4, Pages 1173-1187Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10570-012-9714-4
Keywords
Cellulose nano-crystals; Mercerization; Acid-hydrolysis; High-pressure homogenization; Composites
Funding
- USDA CSREES [2008-38814-04771]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [31070505, 31010103905]
- NIFA [2008-38814-04771, 688747] Funding Source: Federal RePORTER
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Stable aqueous suspensions of cellulose nano-crystals (CNCs) were fabricated from both native and mercerized cotton fibers by sulfuric acid hydrolysis, followed by high-pressure homogenization. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction data showed that the fibers had been transformed from cellulose I (native) to cellulose II (mercerized) crystal structure, and these polymorphs were retained in the nanocrystals, giving CNC-I and CNC-II. Transmission electron microscopy showed rod-like crystal morphology for both types of crystals under the given processing conditions with CNC-II having similar width but reduced length. Freeze-dried agglomerates of CNC-II had a much higher bulk density than that of CNC-I. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that CNC-II had better thermal stability. The storage moduli of CNC-II suspensions at all temperatures were substantially larger than those of CNC-I suspensions at the same concentration level. CNC-II suspensions and gels were more stable in response to temperature increases. Films of CNC and Poly(ethylene oxide) were tested. Both CNC-I/PEO and CNC-II/PEO composites showed increased tensile strength and elongation at break compared to pure PEO. However, composites with CNC-II had higher strength and elongation than composites with CNC-I.
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