Effects of Preparation Parameters on Morphology of Cellulose Nanowhiskers

Abstract

This research will thus try to broaden the properties of bioplastics to be used as smart materials. Cellulose nanowhiskers will be initially prepared from different cellulose source and its morphology will be investigated. Water-activated shape memories nanocomposites will be consequently prepared from the obtained cellulose nanowhiskers and three polymers those are PBS and PBAT. The mechanical, physical and morphological will be investigated. The influences of cellulose nanowhiskers and their morphology on water-activated shape memory behavior will be studied.Recently, natural fiber have extensively used as reinforcement materials in polymeric nanocomposite due to environment concerns. Cellulose nanowhisker (CNWs) have also attracted much attention as environmentally friendly nanofillers for polymer composites. Cellulose nanowhiskers were extracted from commercial source, paper filter and alpha cellulose, using acid hydrolysis by sulfuric acid with various hydrolysis times (20,45,70,95,120 minutes), temperature (35,45,60°C). The hydrolyzed cellulose was neutralized with two different techniques, dialysis and titration. The samples were then sonicated and dried with a freeze dryer. The effects of preparation conditions on the morphological of cellulose nanowhisker were investigated. Cellulose nanowhisker powders were characterized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that it was possible to obtain ultrathin cellulose nanowhiskers with diameters as low as 9 nm. A possible correlation between preparation conditions and particle size was not observed but titration technique time process was reduced.