Abstract
Optimised routes have been established to obtain high aspect ratio cellulose microfibrils derived from plant feedstocks, involving a combination of a chemical and mechanical treatment using a high pressure microfluidizer. By this means, nano-cellulose was produced using different pretreatment protocols. The nanofibres produced were characterised for its particle size distribution measurement (laser diffraction and zeta potential analysis) and fourier transform infrared for its structural analysis. Results obtained and subsequent trends observed in chemical, mechanical and chemo-mechanical treated nanofibres were compared and contrasted. The chemomechanical treatment (TEMPO-oxidation and high pressure microfluidisation) yielded higher aspect ratio nanofibrils than nanofibrils made by solely chemical or mechanical treatment.
Highlights
There is increasing interest in the use of natural fibres as reinforcing additives for polymers, for example in medical and packaging applications
FTIR analysis was performed onto raw materials and cellulose nanofibres in order to study their changes in chemical structure by using attenuated total reflection (ATR) analysis
The cellulose nanofibres treated with acid hydrolysis shows a larger particle size compared to the other products, by means that the nanofibres particles treated with acid hydrolysis aggregated in aqueous suspension rapidly compared to other samples
Summary
There is increasing interest in the use of natural fibres as reinforcing additives for polymers, for example in medical and packaging applications. Nano-variants of these materials can have mechanical properties higher than conventional glass fibres, and potentially of the same order of carbon fibres Since they are derived from renewable sources this makes them more environmentally attractive. These natural fibres have relatively low cost with low density giving high specific mechanical properties to the composite. This type of material has attracted great interest from industry and academia due to the remarkable improvements in properties achievable at very low addition levels compared to virgin polymer or conventional micro- and macro-composites. Particular emphasis is given to the structural characterisation of these fibres, in order to define their suitability as potential reinforcements for polymers
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